Bahrain (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper pledged £5m UK aid for Sudan, condemning “horrifying” violence in El Fasher and urging an immediate ceasefire in Darfur.
As reported by The Independent, Yvette Cooper announced £5 million in aid to Sudan after the fall of a major city brought “horrifying” scenes of violence.
The Rapid Support Forces seized El Fasher, Darfur’s last major city, this week, sparking reports of targeted ethnic killings, sexual assaults, and acute food shortages.
Reports indicate that around 260,000 people, including 130,000 children, are trapped in El Fasher.
Yvette Cooper’s views on the crisis in Darfur
Speaking at a conference in Bahrain, Yvette Cooper slammed “atrocities, mass executions, starvation, and the use of rape as a weapon,” labelling the reports “truly horrifying.”
She pledged additional humanitarian aid and warned that women and children are “bearing the brunt of the largest humanitarian crisis in the 21st century.”
The £5 million announced by Ms Cooper on Saturday will fund emergency food and medical aid in Sudan. Approximately £2 million of the aid package will support survivors of sexual violence.
Ms Cooper joined officials from Germany and Jordan in urging an immediate ceasefire in Darfur.
She told the Manama Dialogue Conference,
“In Sudan right now, there is just despair.”
The foreign secretary added,
“And just as the combination of leadership and international co-operation has made progress on Gaza, it is currently failing to deal with the humanitarian crisis and the devastating conflict in Sudan.”
She continued,
“For too long, this terrible conflict has been neglected, while suffering has simply increased.”
Ms Cooper added,
“Today, I’m announcing from the UK Government a further £5 million of humanitarian support in response to the violence in El Fasher, on top of the £120 million the UK is already providing this year across Sudan.”
What did reports reveal about British arms in Darfur?
UK faces calls to suspend arms sales to the UAE after reports show British weapons with Sudanese forces accused of genocide in Darfur.
At least 2,000 civilians have been massacred in El Fasher by the RSF, a rebel group backed by the UAE, according to satellite imagery.
Reports to the UN Security Council reveal the UAE supplied the RSF with British small-arms targeting systems and military vehicle engines.
What did the UK say about British arms found in Sudan?
Britain targeted firms connected to the RSF and the Sudanese army with sanctions, aiming to push for a negotiated end to the war.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said sanctions would be kept “under review” but declined to comment on future measures.
The government has resisted calls to halt arms exports to the UAE, which is accused of backing the RSF, allegations it denies.
A Foreign Office spokesman stated,
“The UK has one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. All export licences are assessed for the risk of diversion to an undesirable end user. We expect all countries to comply with their obligations under existing sanctions regimes.”
What did the UAE say about alleged support for Sudan’s RSF?
A UAE official said the country has
“consistently supported regional and international efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire.”
They added,
“We categorically reject any claims of providing any form of support to either warring party since the onset of the civil war, and condemn atrocities committed by both Port Sudan Authority and RSF.”