Canada is committing an additional $120 million in humanitarian and development aid to Sudan as the country's civil war enters its fourth year. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that Sudan is a priority for Canada and expressed grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations reports that 34 million people in Sudan require humanitarian support, with over 13 million displaced. The conflict, which began as a political struggle between military and paramilitary forces, has devolved into a brutal ethnic conflict, particularly in the Darfur region.
This new funding from Canada, announced at a conference in Berlin, adds to previous pledges, bringing the total to over $214 million. The aid aims to address critical needs such as emergency food, nutrition, education, and trauma counselling, while also supporting sexual violence prevention.
Anand highlighted credible evidence that starvation is being used as a weapon of war and that civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, is being targeted. She emphasized the need for water, healthcare, nutrition, safe spaces, and security for the people of Sudan, aligning with international humanitarian law.
While Washington has accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces of genocide, Anand noted that the legal determination rests with international tribunals, though she acknowledged credible evidence of severe human rights abuses. Canada's commitment underscores its responsiveness to civilians caught in global conflicts.