The Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry participated – virtually – today, June 19, 2023, in the High-level Pledging Event to Support the Humanitarian Response in Sudan and the Region. Egypt organized the event in cooperation with the United Nations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Germany, the African Union, and the European Union.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Director of the Public Diplomacy Department, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, stated that Egypt’s participation in organizing this event comes within the framework of its eagerness to lend a helping hand to the brotherly Sudanese people and enhance its ability to withstand the repercussions of the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech during the meeting, in which he expressed Egypt’s keen interest in the security and stability of Sudan as an integral part of its national security, stressing Egypt’s solidarity with the brotherly Sudanese people to overcome the current ordeal, and its striving to help and empower them to obtain the decent life they deserve in a safe and stable state.
In his speech, the Foreign Minister affirmed that Egypt would continue its efforts and endeavours with all parties to halt the confrontations and return to dialogue, stressing the necessity for international and regional organizations to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis.
The importance of reaching a sustainable ceasefire to stop the bloodshed of the brotherly Sudanese people and preserve the Sudanese state, its capabilities and institutions.
The Spokesperson added that the Foreign Minister noted that Egypt and Qatar launched a joint initiative under the auspices of the two countries leaders to ensure the provision of support to the brotherly Sudanese people and to facilitate the continued flow of relief aid.
Shoukry also warned of a humanitarian catastrophe that the Sudanese people and the peoples of neighbouring countries will pay for due to the deterioration of the security, economic and humanitarian conditions.
He stated that such a condition had pushed more than one and a half million Sudanese to be internally displaced and the fleeing 350 thousand others to neighbouring countries in search of a haven, constituting additional pressure on them that exceeds their ability to endure and adapt.
Minister Shoukry indicated that Egypt, as a direct neighbour of Sudan, was keen since the beginning of the conflict to open its doors to those fleeing its scourge. He added that the Egyptian authorities had provided all abilities and made strenuous efforts to facilitate their crossing. The authorities have provided them with humanitarian aid and met their food, health and psychological needs.
“Egypt has also received more than a quarter of a million Sudanese, which is equivalent to 60% of the total number of people fleeing violence, in addition to 5 million Sudanese who have been hosted by Egypt for decades, providing them with decent treatment in light of the familial and social ties between the two peoples,” said the reports.
Moreover, Minister Shoukry was keen to commend the model presented by Egyptian civil society and people in voluntary work to support relief operations and humanitarian support for the Sudanese arrivals. He also appreciated the United Nations and its various agencies’ support to the Egyptian authorities.
The Foreign Minister also indicated that continuing the conflict would push more Sudanese to flee to neighbouring countries, increasing the pressures and burdens imposed on them. Especially because they already host large numbers of other nationalities on their territories. Furthermore, their suffering was also stressed due to the lack of international humanitarian financing and the repercussions of successive global crises, supply chain disruptions, and increased global inflation rates.
Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that Egypt has provided and continues to provide huge resources to ensure the permanent operation of border crossings to receive the unprecedented numbers of people fleeing the conflict and to provide them with urgent medical, food, and psychological services and assistance, in addition to providing about 300 tons of urgent medical and food aid and facilitating the evacuation of about 10 thousand foreigners working in diplomatic missions and international organizations.
He also outlined the latest estimates regarding the cost of hosting a quarter of a million Sudanese citizens and providing them with essential services, including subsistence, health and education.
The Spokesperson concluded his remarks by noting that Minister Shoukry urged the international community to necessarily implement its previous pledges to Sudan and provide emergency relief assistance to it.
He added that the Ministry has been providing the necessary funding to implement development projects to support the resilience of host communities in neighbouring countries.
He also asserted that Egypt will continue its efforts to restore security and stability in Sudan, alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people, and ensure that they enjoy a safe and decent life.
