Paris – Canada is deeply concerned by the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, which was exacerbated by the outbreak of conflict in April 2023 and has displaced more than 6.5 million people within the country and has forced another 1.8 million to flee to neighbouring countries.
While at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours in Paris, Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced on behalf of Canada, $132.2million in international assistance funding. This includes $100.7million in humanitarian assistance funding and $31.5 million in development assistance funding, to address urgent needs in Sudan and impacted neighbouring countries: the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
This announcement builds on the Minister’s recent engagements with the Sudanese community in Toronto, during which he highlighted Canada’s ongoing commitment to the humanitarian crisis. Canada’s humanitarian assistance funding will be delivered through experienced humanitarian partners in Sudan and its neighbouring countries. It will help provide emergency health services, food and nutrition assistance, protection services including for gender-based violence survivors, and other life-saving assistance, such as shelter, water and sanitation services, to crisis-affected people.
The development assistance funding announced today complements the international assistance funding and supports critical programming in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and education in emergencies. Canada has called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, which includes the obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.
“Canada remains steadfast in our support of the Sudanese people and in neighbouring countries supporting them. With the funding announced today, Canada’s partners will be able to provide life-saving assistance to people in Sudan and its neighbouring countries, as well as critical education and sexual and reproductive health and rights services to women and girls. Canada continues to call for an end to the violence in the region and for safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to be allowed throughout Sudan.” – Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development