Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
In an effort to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan and its neighboring countries, the United States on Tuesday announced $245 million in additional support. The funds, allocated from the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugee and Migration and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, will provide critical aid to those affected by the conflict.
“These funds will enable our humanitarian partners to respond to the urgent needs arising from the current crisis and provide life-saving assistance to the displaced and vulnerable populations,” said Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State.
The latest conflict, between rival armed forces, has resulted in the displacement of approximately 840,000 people within Sudan and forced an additional 250,000 to seek refuge elsewhere since April 15.
With the funding, humanitarian partners will be able to respond to the emerging needs and provide essential assistance, including food, water, medical care, and other life-saving aid.
“This assistance reaffirms our commitment to supporting the people of Sudan and neighboring countries who are facing the impacts of the humanitarian crisis,” stated a spokesperson from the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The United States also continues to actively engage in diplomatic efforts to monitor and address the ceasefire in Sudan. The Ceasefire Monitoring Coordination Committee, comprising representatives from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is working to identify and hold accountable any parties violating the ceasefire. The Monitoring Mechanism aims to publicly expose violations, privately engage with the conflicting parties, and leverage additional tools when appropriate.
“As part of the Monitoring Mechanism, we will work to identify ceasefire violations and hold the parties accountable. We have various tools at our disposal and will not hesitate to use them,” emphasized Matthew Miller, U.S. State Department Spokesperson.
The latest announcement brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for Sudan and its neighboring countries, including Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, to nearly $880 million for the fiscal year 2023. The United States remains the largest single donor to the Horn of Africa region, demonstrating its commitment to alleviating the suffering of internally displaced persons, refugees, and other vulnerable populations affected by the conflict.
Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed a significant agreement with the Government of Senegal to deliver high-quality health services throughout the country. The $31 million agreement, spanning over four years, aims to enhance maternal, child, and adolescent health while focusing on the prevention of malaria.
“The Government of Senegal has been a key partner of USAID for the past 60 years. This partnership builds on past successes to strengthen Senegalese regional health entities in accordance with local priorities,” said Deputy Administrator Paloma Adams-Allen.
USAID’s commitment to working directly with the Government of Senegal and other local partners is reflected in their plans to allocate over $75 million this year for health-related activities in the country. Additionally, over $24 million has been provided by USAID to support Senegal’s COVID-19 response.
In another significant development, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has released summaries of texts proposed by the United States during the first negotiating round of the United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP). The partnership aims to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, increase investment, and support African regional economic integration.
“These texts reflect our shared goal of achieving economically meaningful outcomes and high-standard commitments in various areas. We are committed to transparency in these negotiations,” stated the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
The summaries provide insights into the U.S. side’s proposals for chapters on agriculture, anticorruption, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and services domestic regulation.