Egypt calls for int'l cooperation to support humanitarian response to Sudan crisis

Egypt s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attending the ministerial meeting on Sudan in New York on Wednesday on the sideline of the UNGA 78 (Photo : Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Shoukry was speaking at a ministerial meeting organized by Egypt in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) in New York.

In his speech, Shoukry expressed Egypt's solidarity with Sudan and reiterated its commitment to assisting the nation during the ongoing crisis, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

He also reviewed Egypt's political and humanitarian efforts since the start of the crisis in April, particularly through the Sudan Neighboring Countries Initiative.

Furthermore, the Egyptian foreign minister highlighted Egypt's humanitarian efforts, including providing aid to 310,000 Sudanese refugees and offering medical and psychological support.

Shoukry also emphasized that Sudan's neighbours should not shoulder the crisis alone to avoid straining public services, jeopardizing peaceful coexistence, and instigating irregular migration.

He called for equitable burden-sharing and the fulfilment of financial pledges from countries to address the humanitarian crisis.

"The international community must come together to close the funding gaps and ensure that countries fulfil their financial pledges," Shoukry said.

The ministerial meeting was attended by representatives from over 50 countries and organizations.

In addition, Shoukry led the second meeting of the foreign ministers of Sudan's neighbouring countries (Egypt, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, and South Sudan), held at the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the UN in New York.

Representatives from the Arab League (AL) and the African Union (AU) attended the meeting organized by Egypt and Chad as one of the outcomes of the Ndjamena meeting in August.

During the meeting, the foreign ministers adopted a roadmap to address the ongoing crisis in Sudan, formulated during the first meeting in Ndjamena.

The roadmap outlines specific actions to be taken in the political, security, and humanitarian spheres to support the Sudanese people in achieving stability and upholding their sovereignty.

The meeting also reviewed the present efforts of Sudan's neighbouring countries to resolve the crisis and the talks these countries had with various Sudanese parties.

The top diplomats also discussed priorities for the next phase, including implementing practical measures to achieve a sustainable ceasefire in Sudan and rallying international support to address the humanitarian situation.

The foreign ministers also agreed to continue coordination and communication.

They also agreed on holding the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Sudan's neighbours in Cairo to assess the progress in implementing the roadmap.