UK Foreign Secretary to Urge Ceasefire at Sudan Aid Conference

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will attend a major international conference on Sudan in Berlin on Wednesday. She is expected to urge the country's warring parties to cease hostilities and call for a diplomatic solution. The conference coincides with the third anniversary of the start of the conflict and aims to address a severe funding shortfall for humanitarian aid. The United Kingdom is set to announce a doubling of its aid to £15 million for Sudanese frontline responders.

Conference Details and Objectives

The conference in Berlin is scheduled for Wednesday. Its primary stated objective is to mobilize international funding to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

According to reports, only 16% of the humanitarian funding required for Sudan in 2024 has been provided by the international community to date.

The UK is among the countries expected to announce new funding, with its commitment specifically directed towards frontline responders, including a volunteer network known as Emergency Response Rooms.

The Humanitarian Crisis

The conflict in Sudan is between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army and is now entering its fourth year. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly:

• A recent assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates that over 19 million people in Sudan face acute hunger as a result of the fighting.
• The IPC found "emergency" levels of hunger across parts of North Kordofan, West Kordofan, South Kordofan, and North Darfur, with some communities facing "catastrophic" levels.
• The IPC projects that the number of people needing humanitarian aid could reach 22-23 million.
• The United Nations reported on Tuesday that nearly 700 civilians have been killed in drone strikes in Sudan since January.

Diplomatic Context and Statements

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated:

"Today, in Berlin, I will call for the international community to join in a shared resolve: to secure a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution, to stop the suffering, and allow the people of Sudan to determine their own peaceful future."

However, diplomatic efforts towards a political solution are reported to have stalled. Sources indicate that talks between the Quad nations—the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—have not yielded what was described as "meaningful progress." Relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also reported to have deteriorated.

Outlook and Expert Assessments

Analysts and sources cited in reports suggest the conference is unlikely to deliver a significant breakthrough towards peace. One source attending the conference stated, "We don't expect anything major, certainly not on the political level."

In the absence of a diplomatic solution, some experts anticipate a worsening of the conflict. Paul Byars, Sudan director of the Danish Refugee Council, said, "I think there'll be a worsening of the conflict in the Kordofan. Neither side will give up, which means they'll keep taking and retaking territory."

The increasing use of drone technology is also noted as a factor that may reduce the likelihood of a traditional seasonal lull in fighting during the upcoming rainy season.