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.
30.4 million in Sudan requiring humanitarian aid: UN report
30.4 million in Sudan requiring humanitarian aid: UN report
The renewal of the currency swap agreement between China and Nigeria will enhance bilateral trade and help strengthen Nigeria's local economy, said a Nigerian economist.
At the end of December, China's central bank said that it had renewed a bilateral currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The total value of the agreement is 15 billion yuan (about 2.09 billion U.S. dollars), or 3.28 trillion Nigerian naira, the People's Bank of China said in a statement.
The agreement is valid for three years and can be renewed upon mutual consent, according to the statement.
The renewed currency swap agreement allows direct naira-to-yuan payments, cutting costs and easing the financial burden for importers like Martines Tochi.
For eight years, Tochi has relied on China for the supply of electrical cables, lighting equipment, and conductors.
Like many Nigerian traders, he once faced challenges in sourcing foreign exchange to pay suppliers
"Sincerely, we've been sourcing dollars from the black market. And we have been facing serious difficulties in sourcing them. Now, you're not going to source here in Nigeria, so it's a good development, a very good development to us," said Tochi.
Economists see this renewed agreement as a pathway to further strengthen the naira and expand bilateral trade.
"That's a very good opportunity for Nigeria to increase its trade volume with China, and it's one of the things that can help also, strengthen the local economy going by the kind of materials or goods that Nigeria imports from China -- electronics, machineries, equipment and what a view, which are essential for boosting industry, for enhancing the growth of our manufacturing sector and creating jobs in Nigeria at large," said Isaac Botti, an economist.
Nigeria is China's third largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade amounting to 22.56 billion US dollars in 2023.
Renewal of currency swap deal boosts trade between China, Nigeria: economist
