Sacha Baron Cohen is stepping up to help children in Sudan amid a food crisis.
The Oscar-nominated star donated $500,000 to the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children USA for Sudan to help organizations working there support citizens following the devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces which exacerbated the famine. conditions. In addition to writing a check, Cohen invites “friends, colleagues and the general public” to join him.
“Right now, there are 25.6 million people suffering from hunger in Sudan, a country that is rapidly moving towards the worst famine seen in decades, yet this crisis is receiving alarmingly little attention,” he said in a note. “This contribution is a small step towards responding to Sudan's immense needs. I am pleased to continue supporting the IRC and Save the Children, who are providing essential food, water, sanitation and health services to those most in need, both in Sudan and in neighboring countries where people are seeking refuge. The Sudanese people urgently need our help and must not be forgotten.”
IRC president and chief executive David Miliband said his organization was “deeply grateful” to Cohen for the donation, which will be channeled towards nutrition, water, sanitation and protection for displaced people. “Eighteen months of war have devastated homes, infrastructure and livelihoods, making Sudan the world's most displaced country and food crisis, but only half of the aid needed has been received. As the disaster continues to spread to neighboring countries such as Chad and South Sudan, the world's neglect is costing lives.”
Save the Children President and CEO Janti Soeripto added: “We are incredibly grateful that Sacha continues to lend his support to the world's forgotten crises and their lasting effects on children. The crisis in Sudan has fallen off many people's radars, but support for children and families is desperately needed. 222,000 severely malnourished children are at risk of dying in the coming months if their needs remain unmet.”
Cohen's donation marks the actor's latest philanthropic effort after previously donating to support children and families in places like Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Somalia. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cohen sent personal protective equipment to NHS workers and first responders in the UK. He is also a co-founder of Stop Hate for Profit, a coalition that denounces social media companies that profit from conspiracy theories, racism and hateful rhetoric.