 BERLIN AP - Western and Arab countries pledged a total 1.8 billion in aid to Sudan on Thursday in efforts to help the struggling African nation, one year after pro-democracy protesters forced the removal of the countrys longtime autocratic ruler, Omar al-Bashir. The pledges from 40 countries, including an additional 400 million grant from the World Bank, came during a video conference hosted by Berlin, which marks the formal launch of the international communitys financial support for Sudans democratic transition after three decades of punitive sanctions and isolation under al-Bashir. Germanys foreign minister, Heiko Maas, said that Thursdays conference was just the beginning on the path to helping Sudan, and that donors would reconvene early next year. We are extremely delighted, satisfied and happy with this response, said Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a former economist with the United Nations. For 30 years, we have longed for this. Although the conference presented an unprecedented amount of international support, pledges fell far short of the 8 billion Hamdok had previously said Sudan will need to rescue its plunging economy. Sudans interim government has been grappling with an economic crisis since it took office last year, also navigating a treacherous transition to civilian rule. On top of that, the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated Sudans economic despair, throwing millions of casual laborers out of work. Drastic shortages of basic goods nationwide have generated deep frustration, forcing people to line up for hours to buy bread or get fuel. Many of Thursdays pledges will be used to fund an ambitious 1.9 billion cash transfer program to Sudans neediest families, around 80 of the population, over the course of... 