The Secretary General of the Red Crescent discusses supporting humanitarian efforts in Sudan with a Swiss government delegation

The Secretary General of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, Ms. Aida Elsayed Abdullah, met at her office with a visiting Swiss government delegation to Sudan, headed by Mr. Dominique Stillhart, Deputy Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), representative of the Swiss Federal Council for Humanitarian Aid, and head of Swiss humanitarian aid. He was accompanied by Valerie Lichte, Assistant Director General at the SDC headquarters and Head of the Africa Department.

In addition to representatives from the Cooperation Office in Cairo, the delegation included Mark de Santis (Head of Cooperation Office), Catherine Weiss (Head of Programs), and Dina Attallah (Programs Officer). Also present were the Red Crescent’s Emergency Director, the Director of the Society’s Capacity Building Department, the Coordinator of Partnerships outside the International Movement, the Head of Branch Development at the Society, and the Liaison Coordinator at the General Secretariat.

At the beginning of the meeting, the visiting delegation expressed their deep sorrow and shared the Society’s grief over the loss of volunteers who lost their lives in the recent events in Bara, North Kordofan.

Regarding the humanitarian situation, the Secretary-General of the Society briefed the delegation on her visit two weeks prior to Khartoum, which included the Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation and the Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Delegation. She informed them of the general situation in Khartoum, highlighting challenges in certain neighborhoods (Central Khartoum and Khartoum North) and the extent of the damage inflicted on service facilities, institutions, and infrastructure, including buildings belonging to the Sudanese Red Crescent Society and the ICRC. There is a challenge in providing electricity and some services in certain neighborhoods due to the destruction of electricity, water, and sanitation facilities.

The Secretary-General also discussed the experience the association has faced since the first day of the war in April 2023, and how the association dealt with the situation despite losing its assets and vehicles at the outset of the conflict. Despite this, the association mobilized all its volunteers and staff across Sudan’s eighteen states, providing psychological support, shelter, and food to displaced people in need. It also relocated its headquarters to the Red Sea branch office in Port Sudan, and the association remained steadfast, continuing to provide its services professionally.

The Secretary-General stated that, in addition to the effects of the war, approximately 7,000 families were affected by the recent floods in Khartoum, which exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and increased the need for humanitarian intervention.

The Secretary-General also addressed the association’s experience in South Kordofan, where families and children were suffering from food shortages despite the availability of goods in the markets, as prices were exorbitant. The purchasing power of citizens was severely impacted, with some resorting to eating tree leaves. However, the association quickly sent financial transfers to its Kadugli branch and opened community kitchens. Within two weeks, other organizations became active, and the situation improved.

Mr. Rahma Mohamed, the Emergency Manager, provided an overview of the association’s interventions across its 18 branches. These interventions included cash assistance, food, shelter, and health services, including cholera control. He stated that the association is currently focusing on cash assistance as an alternative, particularly through banking applications, which are considered more secure.

Mr. Sami Mahdi, the Director of Capacity Building, explained the General Secretariat’s efforts with the various branches, especially regarding staff and volunteer training.

Mr. Dominik Stillhart thanked the Sudanese Red Crescent Society for the comprehensive explanation of the humanitarian situation in Sudan. He commended the Sudanese Red Crescent’s work during this difficult period, especially concerning the distribution of cash to those affected. .