The United Kingdom has announced a major increase in humanitarian support for Sudan, pledging £146 million in aid for 2026 while significantly boosting funding to frontline responders to reach more than 1.8 million people affected by the ongoing crisis. The announcement comes as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper attends the International Sudan Conference in Berlin on the third anniversary of the war.
The funding package includes up to £15 million dedicated to local aid groups and frontline responders, more than doubling previous support. These include Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs), which operate at the community level to deliver essential services such as food, clean water, medical aid, sanitation supplies, and psychological support in some of Sudan’s most inaccessible and conflict-affected areas.
Sudan is currently facing what has been described as the worst humanitarian crisis of the century, with widespread famine, mass displacement, and severe human rights violations. Reports from the United Nations have highlighted atrocities in areas such as El-Fasher, including mass killings, ethnic targeting, and systematic sexual violence against women and girls.
In addition to humanitarian aid, the UK has also increased funding for local human rights defenders to support the documentation and investigation of violations. This aims to strengthen accountability efforts amid the ongoing conflict.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Yvette Cooper emphasized the urgency of global action, stating that the international community must work together to secure a ceasefire and push for a diplomatic resolution. She called for increased pressure on warring parties to allow unhindered access for humanitarian aid and to end attacks on civilians and aid workers.
Since the conflict began, UK-funded programmes have already reached more than 2.5 million people in Sudan, providing life-saving assistance including food, clean water, medical supplies, and protection services for women and girls affected by violence.
At the Berlin conference, the UK is expected to rally international partners to step up their response, stressing both the moral responsibility and the global security implications of the crisis. The renewed commitment aims not only to address immediate humanitarian needs but also to support efforts toward a peaceful, civilian-led future for Sudan.
