It is an honor to speak at this important meeting. Special thanks to everyone who traveled from Sudan to Brussels. This shows your dedication to the people of Sudan. Your insights are invaluable for todays discussions.

Sudan has become a nightmare for its people. A humanitarian catastrophe.

It is now the largest displacement crisis in the world. Nearly 25 million Sudanese are experiencing acute food insecurity — more than half the population. Famine is no longer just a threat; it is a grim reality in several parts of the country. More than eight million people are in Emergency conditions (IPC 4) and at least 638,000 people are in IPC 5 (Catastrophe).  

We must urgently provide assistance to these people, but delivering aid remains a challenge. Humanitarians on the ground face relentless challenges — violence, insecurity, and systematic obstacles to delivering lifesaving aid.

This must stop.

We must all keep up the pressure — donors and the humanitarian community alike. The parties to this conflict must stop their blatant violations of international law and allow immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access, across all borders and frontlines. Millions of lives depend on it.

Responding to this crisis is not just a priority for the EU — it is a commitment. We stand with the people of Sudan, backing up our humanitarian efforts with action: strong advocacy and diplomacy, critical funding, and logistics, such as air bridges and sea freight.

The EU and its Member States keep Sudan high on the global agenda. We have co-hosted several high-level events since the start of the conflict. We also co-hosted the two conferences for Sudan and a high-level event at the UN General Assembly last September.

We are doing our part to ensure the world does not look away.

Funding is also crucial because without it, aid cannot reach those who need it most. Last year, the EU committed nearly €260 million to the Sudan crisis, supporting both Sudan and its neighboring countries. This year, Sudan remains our top priority for humanitarian funding in Africa.

The conflict in Sudan may not capture daily headlines, but the EU is determined to address the crisis in Sudan and its devastating consequences.

Just one small example. Our humanitarian funding supports Save the Children to address sexual violence through community child protection networks, providing a more hopeful future in so much darkness.

Next month, I will travel to the East of Chad to see the impact firsthand and reaffirm our strong commitment to keeping Sudans humanitarian crisis high on the global agenda — right where it belongs.

Todays panels are a vital opportunity to learn from each other, sharpen our strategies, and scale up our humanitarian response. By working together, we can ensure faster, more effective aid reaches those who need it most. Every second counts.