WASHINGTON — The United States and the United Nations on Tuesday unveiled a major new international push to expand humanitarian assistance for Sudan, as the country’s devastating conflict continues to displace millions and strain relief efforts across the region.
At the center of the initiative is the creation of a new Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which opened with $700 million in initial commitments led by the United Arab Emirates and the United States. U.S. officials announced that Washington will contribute $200 million, while the UAE pledged $500 million, signaling a renewed effort to mobilize large-scale global support for one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies.
The Trump administration said the U.S. contribution will come from a broader $2 billion humanitarian financing package approved late last year to support crisis response efforts worldwide. Officials described the Sudan initiative as a priority within that framework, citing the scale of suffering caused by the prolonged conflict.
Saudi Arabia and several other participating countries indicated they plan to join the effort with their own contributions, though specific amounts were not announced during the opening event.
The fundraising launch, held in Washington, was co-hosted by U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, who leads the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and Massad Boulos, the U.S. senior adviser for Arab and African affairs. Both officials emphasized that the new fund is designed to speed up the delivery of food, medical care, shelter, and other essential assistance to civilians caught in the fighting.
“Today we are sending a clear message that the international community can and must act together,” Fletcher said, underscoring the urgency of getting life-saving aid to families facing extreme hardship. He noted that millions of Sudanese remain in desperate need, with access to basic services severely disrupted by ongoing violence and instability.
U.S. officials echoed that message, framing the initiative as part of a broader diplomatic and humanitarian strategy to stabilize the situation and prevent further regional spillover. They stressed that while emergency aid is critical, sustained international engagement will be necessary to address both immediate needs and longer-term recovery.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that Sudan’s crisis ranks among the world’s most severe, with widespread displacement, food insecurity, and overstretched health systems. Aid agencies say funding gaps have limited their ability to reach many vulnerable communities, making the new pledges a significant, if still partial, step toward closing those gaps.
With the Sudan Humanitarian Fund now formally launched, organizers said the next phase will focus on securing additional commitments from governments and international partners, aiming to translate political support into rapid, on-the-ground assistance for those most affected by the conflict.
