Finnish Red Cross to provide support to alleviate consequences of conflict in Sudan

In Sudan, more than 30 million people, including more than 15 million children, are in need of humanitarian aid. Nearly 12 million people have fled their homes. More than four million people have fled to neighbouring countries such as South Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia, and 7.3 million have fled internally.

Almost half of the population of Sudan are facing an acute food shortage. Famine has already been identified in some conflict areas, and the threat of further famine is high.

“The crisis in Sudan needs world attention. The situation of Sudanese people is very worrying and requires increasing international action,” says Sanna Salmela-Eckstein, Regional Manager of East Africa of the Finnish Red Cross. 

Support to provide health services, water and protection

The Finnish Red Cross is allocating 700,000 euros from its Disaster Relief Fund to the work of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Sudan. The IFRC and the Sudanese Red Crescent are improving protection and hygiene for people affected by the conflict, as well as providing shelter, cash assistance, health services and clean water.

As part of the Disaster Relief Fund, the Finnish Red Cross is sending an aid worker to Sudan to coordinate and support the distribution of aid by the Sudanese Red Crescent. The Finnish Red Cross has already sent material aid to Sudan.

The Finnish Red Cross also works in Sudan's neighbouring countries South Sudan and Ethiopia, which receive people who have fled Sudan.

“In the South Sudan emergency aid operation, we are helping refugees and returnees by providing cash assistance and offering clean water and health information. The Red Cross also helps people who have experienced violence to get follow-up treatment and prevents sexual and gender-based violence," Salmela-Eckstein says. 

Text: Minttu-Maaria Partanen

Communications Specialist