The UK is hosting a summit today aimed at ending the two-year conflict in Sudan, which is giving rise to a humanitarian crisis affecting more than 30 million people.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy will be joined by representatives from the African Union, EU, France and Germany.
As well as seeking to identify steps to improve humanitarian access and find a long-term political solution, Lammy will announce £120m of life-saving aid to support over 650,000 Sudanese people.
More than 12 million people in Sudan are displaced, and famine spreading – and more than 12 million women and girls are also at risk of gender-based violence.
The Government said in a press release that the UK wants to tackle instability in Sudan and “reduce the level of irregular migration from the region to Europe and the UK as part of its Plan for Change.”
Secretary Lammy said: “Two years is far too long – the brutal war in Sudan has devastated the lives of millions – and yet much of the world continues to look away. We need to act now to stop the crisis from becoming an all-out catastrophe, ensuring aid gets to those who need it the most.”
Bankole Adeoye, African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, said: “Achieving peace in Sudan depends on valuing every voice and everyone playing a role in building a prosperous Sudan. The African Union is committed to assisting all the people of Sudan build a brighter democratic future by working to silence the guns.”
