UK announces extra funding to tackle people smuggling from refugee camps in Sudan

Foreign Secretary David Lammy says Sudan ‘must not be forgotten’ as he inspects humanitarian efforts on Africa trip

David Lammy visits the border crossing in Adre where thousands of Sudanese refugees have entered Chad, fleeing civil war. PA

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced new funding for displaced people in Sudan which he says will help tackle people smugglers and address the humanitarian “catastrophe” in the country.

Mr Lammy announced £20 million in additional funding while visiting Adre on the Chad-Sudan border and said “Sudan must not be forgotten” amid the continuing conflict. This builds on the doubling of UK aid to £226.5 million in November, to address the humanitarian emergency in Sudan.

The Foreign Office says the funds will provide emergency food assistance to nearly 800,000 displaced people, as well as improving access to shelter, drinking water, emergency health care and education. The humanitarian funding will also help them stay in the local region, so they will be better able to return to their homes when conditions allow.

Since the conflict began, 3.6 million refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, with a significant number travelling on to Europe and the UK. Nearly 2,000 Sudanese nationals arrived in Britain on small boats in the year ending September 2024. The UK's Labour government has promised to reduce the number of people making dangerous small boat crossings operated by people smugglers across the Channel.

Mr Lammy said Sudanese people were facing violence on an “unimaginable scale” and described the conflict as the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world. “Millions have already fled their homes – in the face of a struggle for power that has led to abhorrent atrocities against civilians and famine on an unconscionable scale,” he said.

David Lammy arrives at Adre Airport, where he met officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). PA

“The international community must wake up and act urgently to avoid this horrific death toll escalating further in the coming months, driving instability and irregular migration into Europe and the UK.

"Under this government’s plan for change, we are addressing upstream drivers of migration to secure UK borders. The UK will not let Sudan be forgotten. To do so would be unforgivable.”

Mr Lammy said he was determined to “re-energise” political discussions around the issue and announced plans to convene a meeting of foreign ministers to work towards a solution in Sudan. He also called for greater access so aid can get to where it is needed and said he would push to make every border crossing and route open and accessible.