UN appeals for Sudan aid amid worsening crises

The UN has appealed for a major increase in funding to aid Sudan with hundreds of thousands of people set to join millions in need of relief amid worsening economic and humanitarian crises.

Mark Lowcock, the head of UN humanitarian affairs, called on donors late Monday to provide $1.4 billion (1.18 billion euros) to assist more than seven million people in the East African country.

Millions of people in Sudan have been displaced by conflict and have lived in camps for years.

The call amends a UN appeal made in February over fears Sudan's deepening economic crisis means more than one-and-a-half million more people will soon depend on aid to survive.

"The UN is trying to raise $1.4 billion this year for our humanitarian assistance for seven million people," Lowcock told AFP as he toured two camps for people displaced by war in the state of South Kordofan.

Failure to raise enough funds will leave nearly 5.3 million people at risk of being short of food and could lead to further crises, UN officials say.

The state of South Kordofan, like Darfur and Blue Nile, has witnessed a brutal conflict since 2011 when African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, accusing it of marginalisation.

UN humanitarian affairs chief Mark Lowcock (R) talks with displaced Sudanese at a camp near Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state, on May 13, 2018. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP)

Thousands have been killed in the conflict that engulfed South Kordofan's mountains and vast countryside.

Sudan's economic crisis has complicated the humanitarian situation, said Lowcock.

"The more prices of food rise and the incomes of people buying food do not rise commensurately, the bigger the problem gets," he said.

Prices of food items, specifically bread, have more than doubled across Sudan in recent months, while shortages of fuel and foreign currency have sent inflation surging to more than 56 percent.

To cut costs amid deteriorating economic conditions, President Omar al-Bashir has shut 13 overseas diplomatic missions and terminated the entire administrative staff at the foreign ministry in Khartoum.

Lowcock said Sudan was in desperate need of debt relief, which would help accelerate economic growth and reduce pressure on donors.

"It has been one of the topics I have discussed... It's a very important agenda," the UN official said.

Sudan's foreign debt amounts to more than $50 billion -- significantly hampering its chances at economic recovery.

"Millions of people face serious and growing humanitarian needs," said Lowcock, as he wrapped up a three-day visit to Sudan.

"We cannot let them slide back into a situation where they become completely dependent on humanitarian assistance."