Sudan calls Germany donor conference 'unacceptable' as war enters fourth year

Sudan's government on Wednesday harshly criticized Germany for hosting a donor conference to raise money for humanitarian aid. Officials called the meeting "surprising and unacceptable" and accused Germany of interfering in Sudan's internal matters.

The conference comes as Sudan's brutal civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces enters its fourth year. The fighting has devastated the country and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The numbers tell a grim story. About 11 million Sudanese people have been forced to leave their homes, while nearly twice that number face serious hunger. Most of the country's population has been pushed into poverty by the ongoing conflict.

Humanitarian officials are frustrated by the lack of progress. Denise Brown, a UN official, told The Guardian she's concerned about the "apparent lack of political urgency" to end the war that has displaced 14 million people.

Amnesty International called on wealthy countries at the Berlin meeting to increase funding and pressure both sides to allow aid workers to reach civilians, including victims of sexual violence.