The German Foreign Ministry has announced plans to host an international donors' conference next spring, specifically in April, to mobilize and fund emergency aid for Sudan . This announcement comes at a critical juncture for the country, which has reached a dangerous turning point after 1,000 days of armed conflict, necessitating urgent international intervention to save lives and salvage what remains of the country's crumbling infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated on Friday that the world is marking a somber 1,000th day of war in Sudan, noting the continued suffering of millions of civilians who face death daily. She emphasized that victims are enduring hunger, thirst, and forced displacement, in addition to horrific reports documenting rape and sexual violence as weapons of war.
Dimensions of the humanitarian crisis and the history of the conflict
The roots of the current crisis can be traced back to April 15, 2023, when violent clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, quickly escalating into a full-blown war that devastated the capital, Khartoum, and spread to Darfur and other states. This conflict has created what the United Nations describes as the world's largest displacement crisis, forcing millions of Sudanese to flee their homes, either as internally displaced persons or as refugees in neighboring countries such as Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan.
International reports indicate that Sudan's health infrastructure has almost completely collapsed, with most hospitals in conflict zones out of service, exacerbating the risk of disease outbreaks. Aid organizations also warn of a looming famine threatening millions, particularly in Darfur's displacement camps, as humanitarian convoys face significant obstacles due to military operations and bureaucratic hurdles.
International efforts and donor conferences
The upcoming German conference comes as a continuation of a series of international efforts aimed at alleviating the disaster, with previous conferences held in Paris in 2024 and in London in 2025. Despite the large financial pledges announced at those conferences, the gap between actual needs and the funding received remains wide, requiring a renewed international commitment to the Sudanese people.
The German spokesperson added that her country is “doing everything it can, politically and humanely, to help the people on the ground and to put an end to the fighting.” Germany is a major donor to Sudan and, through this conference, seeks to bring renewed attention to the Sudanese crisis, which may be overshadowed by other global conflicts. She warned that “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis has already plunged millions of civilians into poverty and led to the deaths of tens of thousands.”.
So far, repeated international calls for a ceasefire have failed to achieve a sustainable truce, with both sides of the conflict exchanging accusations of war crimes and targeting civilians, while regional and international mediation efforts continue to bring the two sides to the negotiating table to end this ongoing tragedy.
