Belgium’s EU commissioner for equality and acting commissioner for crisis management, Hadja Lahbib has spoken out about the bitter conflict in Sudan.
The Belgian official told MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday that “hunger, malnutrition, and disease” are rapidly spreading across the country, while international humanitarian law is being violated.
Lahbib said the outlook in Darfur and Kordofan was “particularly shocking,” recalling last month’s “horrific attacks” against civilians by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their capture of El-Fasher and Bara.
The commissioner told MEPs, “Thousands of civilians in El-Fasher have been killed on ethnic grounds, in house-to-house raids, mass detentions. People are unable to leave the city,” she said.
The commissioner is Belgian journalist, television presenter, director and politician, who has been serving as the European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management and Commissioner for Equality since 1 December 2024.
The official, who is from near Mons, worked for a long time for the Belgian Radio-Television of the French Community.
She was speaking at the EU parliament’s plenary in the French city in an urgent debate with MEPs on Sudan.
She added, “Three years into a cycle of war, destruction, and atrocities, this is a moment of great concern for Sudan and the entire region.The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is catastrophic. Hunger and malnutrition are soaring. International humanitarian law is being violated. Civilians face growing threats. Conflict-related sexual violence is rising. Disease outbreaks are spreading. Humanitarian access is being blocked at every turn.”
She went on, “What is happening in Darfur and the Kordofan is particularly shocking, especially the horrific attacks on civilians by the Rapid Support Forces during their capture of El Fasher and Bara last month.
“Thousands of civilians in El Fasher killed on ethnic grounds in house-to-house raids; mass detentions; people unable to leave the city; men separated, tortured, and killed; women and girls facing sexual- and gender-based violence; even community kitchen workers targeted and killed.
“Across the country, bureaucratic barriers continue to block humanitarian assistance. We reiterate our call to all parties for safe, full, and unhindered access for humanitarian organisations.”
Responding to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan remains a priority for the European Commission, she told members adding, “We are using every tool we have: funding, air bridges and sea freight, and humanitarian diplomacy.
“This year, we allocated €273.3 million to the humanitarian response for the Sudan crisis, including €161 million for Sudan only. This is the largest EU humanitarian envelope in Africa. This includes a recent €1 million allocation to support people fleeing El Fasher.”
She said EU support goes beyond funding.
“On advocacy, we have hosted or co-hosted key events since the crisis began, such as Humanitarian Senior Official Meetings held in Brussels in March 2024 and March 2025; the Paris and London ministerial conferences in April 2024 and April 2025; and a ministerial event at the UN General Assembly last September.
“We also maintain a regular presence in Sudan to monitor EU-funded operations and meet our humanitarian partners. We also support humanitarian partners across the country, based on the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Neutrality means we channel aid to those most affected, wherever they are, regardless of who controls the territory.
“Sudan has become a living nightmare for its people and a humanitarian catastrophe. Our funding, advocacy, and concrete actions remain essential to easing the suffering.”
She declared, “The EU will continue to stand with the people of Sudan.”
* Photo credit: Instagram
