30.4 million in Sudan requiring humanitarian aid: UN report

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30.4 million in Sudan requiring humanitarian aid: UN report

2025-01-02 15:57 Last Updated At：16:57

A staggering 30.4 million people in Sudan - approximately 64 percent of the population - are in need of humanitarian assistance humanitarian assistance in 2025, according to a report released on Wednesday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This represents a sharp 23 percent increase from the 24.8 million people recorded in its previous report, due to the escalating armed conflict and limited humanitarian access, said the UN agency.

Of all in distress, around 16 million are minors, the report revealed.

Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 is seeking 4.2 billion U.S. dollars to provide aid and protection to some 21 million most vulnerable people, said the report.

The areas most acutely affected include the western states of South Darfur and North Darfur, Gezira State in central Sudan, and Sudan's capital Khartoum, where a combined 11.4 million people are in urgent need of essentials like food, water, and healthcare, according to the report.

The humanitarian emergency in Sudan stems from the violent clashes that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). More regions were involved after the violence spread. The protracted conflict has claimed the lives of an estimated 28,700 Sudanese and displaced around 12.3 million people.

29 countries sign agreement on establishing World AI Cooperation Organization

Twenty-nine countries on Thursday signed an agreement in Shanghai on establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).

The WAICO will be an independent intergovernmental international organization headquartered in Shanghai, according to the agreement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, signed the agreement on behalf of the Chinese government.

Representatives from the 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, signed the agreement, making their countries the WAICO's founding members. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among representatives from countries and international organizations present at the signing ceremony.

The organization will uphold the purposes of the UN Charter, be committed to extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit and adhere to a people-centered approach, according to the agreement.

It aims to promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensuring that AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby promoting its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity.