The United Kingdom has pledged £5 million in emergency aid to Sudan following the capture of El Fasher by paramilitary forces, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper describing the situation as “horrifying”.
El Fasher, the final major city in Sudan’s western Darfur region, fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) this week, sparking reports of widespread atrocities including ethnically targeted killings, sexual violence, and severe starvation. Humanitarian agencies estimate that around 260,000 people – half of them children – are now trapped in the city with little access to safety or food.
Speaking at the Manama Dialogue Conference in Bahrain, Ms Cooper condemned “atrocities, mass executions, starvation and the devastating use of rape as a weapon of war” in Darfur. She said that the accounts emerging from the region were “truly horrifying”, warning that women and children were “bearing the brunt of the largest humanitarian crisis in the 21st century”.
The new £5 million UK aid package will provide critical support including emergency food supplies and medical assistance. Around £2 million of the total will specifically help survivors of sexual violence, according to the Foreign Office.
Ms Cooper, alongside her German and Jordanian counterparts, called for an immediate ceasefire in Darfur. She urged international leaders to act collectively to prevent further loss of life, stating: “In Sudan right now, there is just despair. 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.”
The RSF has been engaged in a brutal civil war against Sudan’s government since 2023 and has been accused of numerous human rights abuses during the conflict. In response, the UK imposed sanctions last year on several companies linked to both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces in an effort to push for a negotiated settlement.
Earlier this week, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty confirmed that sanctions remained “under review”, though he declined to comment on any forthcoming measures. He also acknowledged reports that “UK-made items” had been discovered in Sudan, but emphasised that there was no evidence of British weapons or ammunition being used in violation of the international arms embargo.
The Government has so far resisted pressure from the Liberal Democrats to suspend arms exports to the United Arab Emirates, a country accused by several international observers of backing the RSF – claims that the UAE continues to deny.
The escalating crisis in Sudan has raised alarm across the international community, with calls intensifying for stronger diplomatic intervention and humanitarian support to protect civilians in Darfur and beyond.
