(Ecofin Agency) - Sudan needs $283 million to meet the urgent needs caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The resources will be used to provide food, water, sanitation, health, and protection services to the most vulnerable populations. The UN estimates that more than 9.6 million Sudanese (nearly a quarter of the population) are currently facing severe famine.

With the arrival of the coronavirus, new challenges have been added to the socio-economic crisis that the country has been going through for several months. According to the government, the new pandemic has affected the purchasing power of families, and restrictions are having an impact on access to food, health care, and basic services.

“COVID-19 arrived in Sudan at a time when an increasing part of the population was struggling to meet their basic needs and the health system was already under extreme stress,” said Gwi-Yeop Son, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, calling on the international community to come together and support the Sudanese people generously and in a timely fashion.

In total, the virus has affected 10,992 people in Sudan, including more than 693 deaths and 5,707 recoveries, according to the latest figures from the African Union. The authorities hope that the planned funding will provide vital assistance to more than 6.7 million people across the country. 

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou