The H2H Network strengthens the humanitarian response to the conflict escalation in Sudan

Following the consequences of the rapid conflict escalation in Sudan, the H2H Network is activating its fund mechanism to enable six members to provide support services to the humanitarian response in the affected region. These services address issues related to security and safety, rapid needs assessments, communication and engagement with affected communities, and access to information. As part of the H2H funded service package, these are freely available to all responders, and project activities will be completed by August 2023.

The H2H Network’s Executive Director Kim Scriven said, “Serious constraints have challenged the humanitarian response to the crisis. The protection and information gaps are large, and sufficient data to inform the response priorities is lacking. H2H Members’ services have the potential to play a key role in strengthening the humanitarian response in Sudan and neighbouring countries.”

• Insecurity Insight will analyze how violent incidents affect the delivery of aid, strengthening predictive and mitigation capacities within the aid sector to enable a better response.
• The New Humanitarian will inform response measures by supporting communication on the needs of affected communities.
• Internews, CDAC Network and Diaspora Emergency Action and Coordination (DEMAC) will work to improve communication and engagement with conflict affected communities to ensure that their voices and priorities can inform an accountable response.
• IMPACT Initiatives will conduct rapid needs assessments and monitoring to inform targeting and prioritization of the humanitarian response.

On 15 April, the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated in Sudan with devastating consequences for civilians. Nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced of which 330,000 have crossed into neighbouring countries. The conflict risks descending into a protracted civil war. Humanitarian access is severely limited and serious constraints have challenged the humanitarian response to the crisis. Aid workers have been targeted, including killings and acts of sexual violence, and offices and warehouses of aid organizations have been looted. Due to the violence, physical danger makes it difficult for affected people to access food, water, and services.

As a result of humanitarian access challenges, the response lacks sufficient information and data on humanitarian needs and security risks. It also needs reliable information for affected people on where to access aid and safety, including communication and engagement with the communities. With their services ideally placed to address these gaps, the six funded members are now strengthening the humanitarian response in Sudan and neighbouring countries.

The H2H Network supports its members with various services, including the H2H Fund, a funding mechanism for network members to activate service packages to improve humanitarian assistance efficiently. The H2H Fund has previously been activated to support the humanitarian response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, the Ebola epidemic in DR Congo, the security crisis in Burkina Faso, the pandemic crisis in Vanuatu, conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Covid-19 pandemic, conflict escalation in the occupied Palestinian Territories, the earthquake in Haiti, the humanitarian crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia, the flooding in Pakistan and the drought in the Horn of Africa.

This H2H Network fund allocation is supported by UK aid – from the British people. The H2H Network is also supported by USAID, Sida and the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).