Germany, EU pledge about Є200M each in aid to Sudan, neighboring countries

The Germany Government and European Union have pledged separately about 200 million Euros to Sudan and neighboring countries, including South Sudan to support the humanitarian needs due to the conflict in Sudan.

In a press statement by the Germany Embassy in Juba, the country’s Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Katja Keul made this commitment on Monday.

This was during a pledging conference co-hosted by Germany alongside UN-OCHA, the African Union, the European Union, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, which raised a total of about US$1.5 billion for Sudan and the region.

She also expressed her appreciation to neighboring countries for welcoming people who escaped violence in Sudan.

“In this spirit, Germany pledges €200 million of humanitarian assistance to Sudan and the region till 2024, €100 million of which are new commitments yet to be allocated, depending on access and the evolving security situation. This is part of our broader commitment to the region, which also comprises €270 million for resilience building and €3 million stabilization engagement,” said Keul.

The Minister of State Keul is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Sudan and its impact on civilians, stressing that “The hostilities must end immediately.”

Ms. Keul called on the warring parties to the conflict to engage in meaningful talks about a sustainable ceasefire without further delay.

“Humanitarian access must be ensured. Humanitarian workers must be able to provide life-saving assistance without fearing for their own lives.”

She acknowledged the impact the conflict has on neighboring countries, including South Sudan for opening their borders to people fleeing conflict in Sudan.

“We thank those countries for their hospitality and we will continue to stand by your side in these difficult times. Safe corridors between Sudan and neighboring countries have to be established and borders must remain open,’ she added

Meanwhile, the European Union Commission pledged a total of €190 million in additional humanitarian and development assistance to Sudan and the region.

Out of the total new EU aid package, €8 million is dedicated to supporting Sudan’s neighbors to deal with the arrival of those fleeing Sudan.

In addition, €130 million in EU development cooperation will support food security, resilience and health for the most vulnerable people.

According to the German government, it is ‘the second-largest donor of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan and largest donor to both the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, which also pledged to provide US$65 million to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Sudan and neighboring countries.’

Germany also supports the peace process and the long-term development of South Sudan, primarily in the fields of local governance, rural development, sustainable agriculture, gender equality, and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.

Malakal PoC chiefs recommend state govt takes over camp site

Representatives of the Communities at the Malakal UN Protection of Site have suggested the camp be handed over to the Upper Nile State government to provide security to the displaced, according to the State Minister of Information, Luk Saadallah.

He told Eye Radio that the representatives met meet with the Vice president at the state general secretariat on Saturday and presented their complaints over the situation at the PoC.

“They complained that the PoC where the civilians have been protected should be handed over to the government, and humanitarian assistance to be carried out by the aid actors,” the state official said.

The local leaders attributed the violence to delinquencies among the youth

“The young people who grew up at the PoC are not listening to them (chiefs), so Chief Adam who represented the Shuluk community said it clearly that the youth will not listen to them,” and they suggested that ” the PoC must be handover to the government.”

However, Eye Radio could not independently obtain the outcome of the meeting.

Their call came after the state government called on UNMISS to hand over jurisdiction of the camp to the state police on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga who visit the camp last week announced his government’s plans to carry out disarmament of the civil population in Malakal town of Upper Nile State and other parts of the country

The Chairperson for the Economic Cluster said disarming the five communities in the state capital will to promote a peaceful co-existence in the area.

“I am sure that it is the solution for peaceful coexistence and to the conflict in the state,” he said.

However, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan cautioned the internally displaced persons at the Malakal Protection of Civilians Site against smuggling firearms into the camp after the deadly violence on Thursday.

UNMISS said it did not encourage the communities to separate.

This followed the deadly inter-communal fighting, that killed at least 20 people recently.

 

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