Reps. Summer Lee, Gregory Meeks, Barbara Lee Lead Letter Urging President Biden to Address Sudan’s Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 30, 2024

Contact: Vaibhav Vijay, Deputy Communications Director, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov

Kyla Gill, Senior Press Secretary, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov

Reps. Summer Lee, Gregory Meeks, Barbara Lee Lead Letter Urging President Biden to Address Sudan’s Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Summer Lee (D-Penn.), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) led 30 of their colleagues  in sending a letter to President Biden calling for urgent action to address the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. 

Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. Since conflict broke out in April 2023, nearly 12 million people have been displaced, and more than 25 million—half the country’s population—are suffering from extreme food insecurity and malnutrition. Civilians have been subjected to unimaginable atrocities, including mass killings, targeted ethnic violence, and the widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Compounding the crisis, Sudan’s healthcare system has been devastated, with the destruction of hospitals and clinics leaving millions without access to critical medical care.

“The United States possesses both the moral responsibility and the practical capability to lead the international response to this crisis,” the Members wrote.  “The scale of suffering in Sudan demands the United States deploy every available humanitarian tool at our disposal…it is critical to continue our diplomatic work to secure a ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure unobstructed humanitarian access. Without decisive global engagement, violent conflict in Sudan threatens to destabilize the entire region, with devastating implications for countless lives and communities,” they continued.

This call for action follows a recent announcement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the United States would provide $200 million in aid to the people of Sudan for food, shelter, and healthcare—bringing total U.S. support since the onset of the conflict to more than $2.3 billion.  

In their letter, the Members commended the President for his leadership on this issue thus far and urged his Administration to remain steadfast in implementing further bold, coordinated, and urgently needed measures to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and stabilize the region. These measures include establishing safe zones and humanitarian corridors, increasing aid directly to Sudanese organizations supporting civilians on the ground, updating atrocity determinations to address new violations, and renewing Temporary Protective Status for Sudanese nationals.

The full letter is available here.

Cosigners include: Gabe Amo (RI-01), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Cori Bush (MO-01), Greg Casar (TX-35), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús García (IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry Johnson (GA-04), Daniel Kildee (MI-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Frederica Wilson (FL-24)

Background

Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in violent conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The resulting humanitarian crisis has created severe shortages of food, water, and healthcare, with famine declared in some areas. The United States and its allies need  to take decisive action to deliver aid, protect civilians, and support long-term peace efforts.