Qatar has been keen on supporting regional and international mediation efforts since the eruption of fighting in Sudan in April 2023 as it believes negotiations is the only way to end the war in the country. Doha has called the warring parties in Sudan time and again to exercise restraint and resume negotiations to reach an agreement. The war in Sudan has brought immense suffering to people and caused a catastrophic deterioration in humanitarian, economic, social and security conditions across the country. The country’s infrastructure has been badly damaged and many services, especially education and health care systems, are severely affected, and an increasing number of people are in need of assistance. The county is facing a devastating hunger catastrophe on a scale not seen since the Darfur crisis in the early 2000s. A total of 25.6 million people are in the high levels of acute hunger. This means that for half of Sudan’s war-battered population, every single day is a struggle to feed themselves and their families. Qatar has condemned in strongest terms, the violence against civilians in Al Jazirah state, among the victims were women and children and elderly, and considered it flagrant violation of international laws. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the importance of dialogue to end the armed conflict. It emphasised the importance of placing the Sudanese crisis on the international community’s priorities list and addressing its root-causes. The ministry stressed Qatar’s unwavering position on the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan, rejecting all forms of interference in its internal affairs. Qatar has provided all kind of support to alleviate the suffering of Sudanese people. It co-sponsored the Sudan Pledging Conference 2023 and pledged to provide $50m to support the efforts of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan and the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan. It operated an air bridge to deliver humanitarian aid provided by the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in partnership with Qatar Charity (QC) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). A QC-QFFD grant agreement consisted of over$5m to provide food baskets for families affected by war and displacement and the QFFD’s contribution of $1m to supply kidney and cancer medications. Besides, the QC and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed two agreements to support the needs of over 30,000 Sudanese refugees in Egypt and Chad from Zakat funds. Over 1,784 Sudanese residents in Qatar were evacuated from Sudan onboard Qatari relief planes.
