Sweden’s support to the civilian population in crisis-affected Sudan
Published
A full-scale civil war has been ongoing in Sudan since April 2023. The war exacerbates an already serious political, economic and humanitarian crisis. Sudan is among the countries receiving the most support from Sweden in 2024. This support includes development and humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan. Sweden also supports ongoing diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire.
The humanitarian situation in Sudan is very serious. More than half the population, around 26 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance. The civil war has displaced more than 10 million people. According to the United Nations (UN), it is the world’s largest internal refugee crisis and humanitarian crisis for children. In July, the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that famine conditions are prevalent in the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur. Famine conditions are also presumed to be prevalent in other parts of the country, and millions of Sudanese are on the brink of starvation.
Sudan – among the largest recipients of Swedish development assistance
Due to the serious humanitarian situation, Sudan is among the countries receiving the most assistance from Sweden in 2024. Sweden is providing SEK 606 million in total support, comprising SEK 386 million in humanitarian assistance so far and SEK 220 million in development assistance. This assistance is allocated to humanitarian and other organisations on the ground and contributes to reducing hunger and counteracting an impending large-scale famine. In 2024, Sweden has also been scaling up its assistance for monitoring and documenting human rights abuses and violations. Gender-based violence has increased during the war and Sweden contributes to assistance for women subjected to violence through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Sweden has also been scaling up its assistance to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to contribute to the protection of, and emergency assistance for, displaced people.
Diplomatic efforts for a political solution
Borders must be opened and humanitarian actors allowed to work freely so that food and other life-saving provisions can reach the most vulnerable. Sweden and the EU operate to promote civilian society’s increased participation in peace efforts and for the warring parties to enter into direct negotiations on a ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian access and follow international humanitarian law.
Sweden’s relations with Sudan
Sweden has historically had broad relations with Sudan. This has included development cooperation, trade, business contacts and humanitarian assistance, and political engagement in support of democratic development, peacebuilding and statebuilding. The Embassy of Sweden was relocated to Stockholm when fighting erupted in April 2023. Sweden’s and the EU’s engagement has since mainly focused on achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict, implementing development initiatives and providing humanitarian assistance to support the people of Sudan. Sweden has continued to support civil society organisations that are pushing for a democratic transition.
Famine
The internationally agreed threshold for famine in a specific geographical area is based on the following three indicators, in accordance with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC):
-at least 20 per cent of households face an extreme lack of food;
-approximately 30 per cent of children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition;
-at least two people or four children for every 10 000 inhabitants die each day due to outright starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.
The Famine Review Committee is an independent expert committee that in hunger catastrophes reviews the indicators of famine that are gathered by humanitarian actors to confirm that the factual evidence and assessment are correct. Famine can only be declared after the Committee has completed their review and confirmed that famine is prevalent.
On 24 July 2024, the Famine Review Committee confirmed that famine is considered prevalent in the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur.
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