As the crisis in Sudan continues to rage on, the international community, including Qatar, have constantly called on the conflicting parties to reach lasting peace to prevent unnecessary loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure.
According to statistics published, Sudan currently has one of the largest numbers of displaced people and refugees fleeing from battles to more food-secure and safe areas. More than two million people in Sudan have been forced from their homes due to two months of fighting between the country’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the United Nations (UN). Besides, the United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) has warned that the conflict in Sudan may significantly raise food prices in the already struggling country.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced that Qatar pledged to provide $50m to support efforts of the humanitarian response plan in Sudan and the regional plan for refugees. Qatar’s commitment stems from the country’s fraternal responsibility and moral and humanitarian duty towards the Northeast African country. The PM announced this during a video conferencing during the high-level pledging initiative to support the humanitarian response in Sudan and the region co-chaired by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany, and the United Nations.
According to the PM, Qatar will spare no effort in standing by the Sudanese people until they overcome this crisis. He asserted that Qatar’s consolidated and firm position is to support Sudan’s unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, reject any meddling in Sudan’s internal affairs, and fully respect its people’s options in freedom, peace, justice and prosperity.
The PM also praised the regional and international efforts, especially the joint Saudi-US mediation, the African Union and IGAD. He said there is no military solution to this conflict, and the only way is through political solution.
Meanwhile, Qatar has operated an air bridge to deliver about 318 tonnes of aid until the last plane that provided aid which included medicines and clothes, at a cost of over $4m. Qatar has also evacuated 1,784 people through the efforts of some institutions in Qatar, like the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Public Health, Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity, and Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).
It is worth noting that all of Sudan’s 18 provinces have experienced displacement, with Khartoum at the top of the list, with about 65% of the total displaced people. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix ranks West Darfur second with more than 17% displacement.
