The United States has announced its intentions to push the U.N. Security Council to provide humanitarian aid in response to the food crisis in Sudan. The call for aid involves cross-border deliveries from Chad given that the Sudanese armed forces have not restored full access to delivery routes. The United States alone, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), has already provided an initial $103 million in aid for Sudan and neighboring countries impacted by the food crisis.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield remarked on the situation in Sudan saying,  “Already, the World Food Program has had to cut assistance to over seven million people in Chad and South Sudan. This includes 1.2 million refugees, people like those I met in Eastern Chad back in September, who struggled to find enough food even then.” She urged for the Sudan Armed Forces to “fully reopen all of its border crossings with Chad for humanitarian purposes,” and “should they not, the Security Council must take swift action to ensure lifesaving aid is delivered and distributed, including, if necessary, through a cross-border mechanism.”

The war which erupted in Sudan on April 15, 2023, has already left nearly 25 million people in need of desperate aid and millions in starvation. As resources continue to dwindle, humanitarian efforts across the region are challenged by limited supplies and funding and a lack of access to those in need. The humanitarian funding provided by the United States is not enough to support the ongoing food crisis in Sudan, which is why it is urging other donors to help with critical funding gaps.

The conflict in Sudan is forcing humanitarian partners across the region to make tough decisions on how to meet growing needs with limited resources, particularly in areas like Chad where resources are already severely strained.

Following Sudan’s independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956, power struggles and fights over the control of natural resources between the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum and marginalized ethnic groups have fueled this conflict. It has had devastating humanitarian consequences, including the displacement of millions of individuals, the loss of approximately 13,000+ lives, the ongoing food insecurity crisis, and the violation of human rights such as indiscriminate bombing and sexual violence.

The current conflict in Sudan presents a grave breach of international law and underscores the importance of accountability and support for the victims. Looking into the future, it is important to stress the role that the U.N. Security Council and the international community have in this crisis and pressure relevant parties to take immediate action to provide aid to the millions suffering because of this crisis.