France, April 16 -- French President Macron said Monday's Paris conference raised more than €2 billion in aid to help Sudan and its neighbouring countries. The international pledges come exactly a year after the start of the conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which has forced millions to flee and brought the population to the brink of famine.

"This support will be able to respond to the most urgent needs" for Sudan's population ranging from a food crisis to education, Macron said late Monday, adding that European Union countries had pledged nearly half the humanitarian aid total.

"It is a conflict imposed on the people that only produces grief and suffering, provoking one of the worst hu...