Qatar, Egypt to launch initiative supporting Sudanese people as conflict rages

Qatar’s Emir made a phone call with Egypt’s president late on Friday to discuss regional issues and ways to strengthen bilateral ties in various fields, according to a spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency.

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also discussed ways to help alleviate suffering in Sudan, which is witnessing a weeks-long conflict that has killed hundreds of people.

During the call, the two leaders stressed the importance of working to "contain the humanitarian situation in Sudan, facilitate the flow of relief aid, and spare civilians the impact of the clashes", said the presidential spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy, as cited by The New Arab's Arabic sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

سمو الأمير المفدى يتلقى اتصالا هاتفيا من أخيه فخامة الرئيس عبد الفتاح السيسي رئيس جمهورية مصر العربية الشقيقة.https://t.co/MHuI0tBwy0

— الديوان الأميري (@AmiriDiwan) June 2, 2023

Fahmy further added that the leaders have agreed to launch "a joint initiative to support and provide relief to Sudanese civilians with an aim to mitigate the repercussions of the crisis on the Sudanese population".

It was added that this will be "carried out through the provision of humanitarian and relief services, provided that the concerned authorities in the two countries will develop the relevant executive framework and mechanisms".

The Amiri Diwan of Qatar, which acts as the Emir’s administrative office, issued a similar statement on the initiative for Sudan, agreeing to intensify their "joint coordination to provide support and assistance to Sudan and ease the consequences of the conflict".

The Qatari and Egyptian leaders also discussed other regional and international developments.

Fighting broke out in Sudan on 15 April between the Sudanese Army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, prompting a humanitarian crisis in the East African country.

The conflict, which was triggered by a power struggle between the rival army generals, has killed at least 865 Sudanese - most of whom are civilians, according to the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate.

The death toll, however, is estimated to be significantly higher.

Additionally, thousands of people have fled the country into the neighbouring countries of Egypt, Ethiopia and Chad - among others -, amid international calls to end the conflict.

Last month, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) assigned $5 million to support UN humanitarian efforts in Egypt for Sudanese people fleeing to the country following the conflict’s outbreak, reported the Egypt Independent outlet.

Meanwhile, Qatar has sent medical aid to Sudan, as well as tons of essential food items amid a hunger crisis, triggered by the fighting, according to the Turkish Andadolu agency.