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Amid the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, aid donors have provided some $1.5 billion in assistance. Nonprofit groups working in the conflict areas say that funding is inadequate, and the shortfall is causing major challenges. Meanwhile, those fleeing Sudan say the humanitarian response in neighboring countries is so bad they are returning home. Reporter Henry Wilkins looks at why this is happening.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: SSUDAN SUDAN FUNDING (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Why is Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis so Underfunded?
TEASER: VOA spoke to experts and those that fled Sudan, who now say they will go back because the humanitarian response in neighboring countries is lacking
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Renk, South Sudan
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Wilkins
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Daniel Schearf
SCRIPT EDITORS: wpm, pcd
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, Zoom,
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Amid the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, aid donors have provided some $1.5 billion in assistance. Nonprofit groups working in the conflict areas say that funding is inadequate, and the shortfall is causing major challenges. Meanwhile, those fleeing Sudan say the humanitarian response in neighboring countries is so bad they are returning home. Reporter Henry Wilkins looks at why this is happening. ]]
((VIDEO-VOA: WOUL - various, JODA TRANSIT CENTER - various))
((NARRATOR))
Anai Wuol, is one of hundreds of thousands who have fled Sudan in recent weeks escaping the conflict, which is tearing the country apart. He describes conditions in the capital, Khartoum.
((Anai Wuol, South Sudanese Returnee (in Dinka, ?? secs))
“As I said, the conditions people are going through in Khartoum are extremely bad. Many want to get out but can’t do so because of the financial difficulties of finding money for transport.”
((VIDEO-VOA: TYEM - various, RENK RETURNEE SITE - various))
((NARRATOR))
Yet, some of those who have already fled here, to Renk, in neighboring South Sudan, say the conditions are so bad they want to go back to war-torn Sudan.
[[For radio: Abook Tyem, a South Sudanese returnee, says many people are returning to Sudan out of hunger and the lack of other basic needs.]]
((Abook Tyem, South Sudanese Returnee (in Dinka, 8 secs))
“It’s mostly hunger that drives people to go back to Sudan. If we’re provided with food, healthcare, and tents to shelter in, then there won’t be any need for us to go back.”
((VIDEO-VOA: RENK RETURNEE SITE - various))
((NARRATOR))
VOA spoke to others who said they planned to go back and to community leaders, who said that some people have already returned to Sudan.
Nonprofits have complained that the $1.5 billion in humanitarian funding pledged since Sudan’s war started in April represents only around half of what is needed and will cause problems in responding “at scale” to the crisis.
Mark J. Wood, a program associate at the advocacy group Refugees International, says donors are reluctant to work with unfamiliar local NGOs in Sudan and won’t give them funding.
((Mandatory Courtesy: Zoom))
((Mark J. Wood, Program Associate, Refugees International (in English, ?? secs)))
“It is heavily frustrating for us in the humanitarian field and humanitarian space to see Sudan not getting as much attention as it should. We encourage donor nations to be more flexible with their funding and to not be as stringent and put aside the bureaucratic red tape and be more flexible with their funding so they can address what is actually happening on the ground.”
((VIDEO-VOA: JODA TRANSIT CENTER - various))
((NARRATOR))
David del Conte, a humanitarian and policy consultant, says the international community was not fully prepared for the intensity of the war in Sudan and the humanitarian crisis it would trigger.
((Mandatory Courtesy: Zoom))
((David del Conte, Humanitarian and Policy Consultant (in English, 16 secs))
“That led to a rather myopic look at how much funding would be needed for the situation. I think the international community can start putting pressure on the parties, start cutting off the income source of the parties, start cutting off the trade routes for the parties, to force the parties to the table and that really hasn’t been done in any meaningful way.”
((VIDEO-VOA: RENK RETURNEE SITE - various))
((NARRATOR))
Experts also cited donor fatigue, which has been especially pronounced since the pandemic caused countries to “look inward,” as well as the continuing Ukraine crisis.
((Henry Wilkins for VOA News, Renk, South Sudan))
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Renk, South Sudan
Embargo DateAugust 10, 2023 06:00 EDT
BylineHenry Wilkins
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
