Edited by Carol Dudek from news reports
April 13
Sudan’s Liberation Forces Alliance led by Hajar announced withdrawal from the Joint Force of Darfur Armed Movements because the latter decided to end its neutral position and join the Armed Forces in its war with the RSF. After eruption of the senseless war, the Armed Movements signatories to Juba Peace Agreement decided to adopt strict neutrality and not take sides. Thus, a joint force has been established to shoulder responsibility of protecting civilians and government facilities, explained Hajar. It was impossible for the Joint Force to perform its responsibilities after some armed movements renounced neutrality, announcing fighting alongside the army. SLFA directed its general command and concerned parties to immediately start forming a new joint force. The former Joint Force announced from its hqs in al-Fasher that it will fight alongside the SAF against the RSF everywhere.
April 12
The Children’s Drawings…dozens of artworks by Sudanese children offers a stark portrayal of harrowing experiences endured in conflict-ridden regions like Darfur and the Nuba Mtns. In 2007 Waging Peace conducted a mission in Eastern Chad, assessing the humanitarian situation and gathering testimonies. Moved by accounts of children witnessing attacks, they provided paper and pencils to children aged 6 to 18, prompting them to express their dreams and memories. Their drawings revealed disturbing details of attacks by Sudanese Armed Forces, RSF and allied militia. Among the collection are striking depictions of the massacre at the General Command sit-in in Khartoum. Rebecca Tinsley emphasised the urgent need to address the ongoing atrocities. She lamented the lack of attention from regional and international leaders, decrying the media vacuum that allows such horrors to persist. Tinsley highlighted the resilience of Sudanese communities, particularly women who faced sexual exploitation amidst the conflict’s chaos. Referring to a drawing in the book that depicts women bound together, she highlights the prevalent issue of sexual slavery within the conflict. Journalist Mohanad Hashim…drew attention to the tragic events of June 2019, known as the Ramadan 29 Massacre, where 127 protesters were killed, with 100 missing and 700 injured. Hashim painted a grim picture of the humanitarian situation, describing a fractured society where children are deprived of education and grappling with the trauma of war, revolution and COVID. Elbashir Idris, activist and co-founder of the Sudanese Diaspora Network, drew parallels between his own experiences and those depicted in the children’s drawings….Sarah Montgomery UK Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa highlighted the fragmented nature of mediation efforts in addressing the crisis. …stressed the empowering civil society and grassroots leaders in effecting meaningful change. Dabanga
April 11
Russia has begun exporting diesel to Sudan as part of its effort to find new markets following an EU embargo. Since the full implementation of the embargo on Russian oil product in 2023, diesel supplies have been redirected to various destinations including Brazil, Turkey, countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as ship-to-ship loadings. 2 fuel tankers…transported 70,000 metric tons of diesel to Sudan after being loaded at Russian port Primorsk. These were discharged at Pt Sudan Al Khair Terminal April 2 and 5….Another vessel loaded in March at Russian port Vysotsk is currently en route to Pt Sudan and is expected to be unloaded April 17. AfricaNewsApril 11 118 people, including 19 children, were subjected to sexual violence, including rape, gang rape and attempted rape as of mid-Dec the UN High Commission for Human Rights said. A new report from UN Women gives several horrific testimonies of what transpired….18-year-old Amna Salih sheltered in her home to avoid the dangers of the conflict recalled when there came a knock at the door. I panicked but shakingly opened the door and there were some soldiers. They came inside and on realizing that I was alone, they started to rape me, one after another with a gun pointed at me….They stayed in my house for 4 days and did it every day. when the soldiers left at last, with the help of a neighbour, Salih was able to escape to a friend’s house I was only able to explain what happened to another friend who lived outside Sudan. She sent me some money and advised me to quickly leave the city. According to the UN High Comm for Human Rights, many attacks were committed in homes and on the streets, adding that only 4 victims were willing and able to report to the authorities, owing to stigma, distrust of the justice system, collapse of the institutions of justice and fear of reprisals. Salih was reportedly shocked to find out that she was pregnant: It has really been a struggle. Being pregnant in an IDP shelter with no proper medical care or proper nutrition. The Sudanese Org for Research & Development in Kassala and the Women Awareness Org in Pt Sudan partnered with UN Women to care for internally displaced persons, especially vulnerable women affected by sexual and gender-based violence. One of SORD’s critical tasks has been caring for pregnant women and girls, many impregnated due to sexual abuse. Nahid Ahmed, a specialist in psychotherapy, said the organization has worked with women survivors of gender-based violence and sexual assault: We have cases of sexual violence, which we follow closely, though many women don’t want to talk about their experiences. They need intensive psychological support which we offer, and medication where needed.
Red Sea Emergency Rm and AWOON in collaboration with UN Women, established 6 Women Situation Rooms to help women access an array of humanitarian services, including helping pregnant women access traditional obstetric care in the absence of health professionals, and providing shelter, food and water. We referred them to the obstetrics and gynaecology departments, and we follow them up closely adding that AWOON worked to support the mental health of pregnant women who survived sexual assaults. WSRs also provide organizations the opportunity to network, access and share information, and serve as distribution points for goods and services collected through community efforts. Committees of WSRs coordinate evacuation of civilians from frontline areas, repair electrical systems to restore power to medical centres, and search for missing persons and reunite them with their families. The situation room framework can provide women and frontline responders with aid, but a lot of support is needed in terms of technical and financial assistance for greater effectiveness, said one UN Women humanitarian worker. The number of people in need of gender-based violence services has increased by more than 1 million, reaching 4.2m people since the start of the war, and that number is expected to reach 6.9m during 2024. Sudan Tribune
It has been nearly 1 year since war broke out….Thousands of desperate people are still fleeing the country daily as if the emergency had started yesterday. Diplomatic efforts failed to put an end to the crisis, …partially triggered by an internationally backed plan to merge the RSF into the army. While Western countries pressured the sides to reach a deal quickly, promising aid and debt relief as incentives, each side feared ceding too much control to the other in a new political order. The Framework Agreement…brought to the fore key existential issues for both forces and their leaderships, such as RSF integration into a single army, military divestment from lucrative sectors of the economy and the prospect of facing justice for past abuses, Jonas Horner, independent researcher on Sudan. Tensions between the 2 military forces reached boiling point in Khartoum on April 15 last year, when both forces sent armoured vehicles into the streets and opened fire. The SAF is Sudan’s national army, with 300,000 soldiers. Gen al-Burhan was a career soldier who climbed the ranks under Pres al-Bashir. The RSF, on the other side, has 100,000 well-equipped soldiers positioned across Khartoum and Darfur, the group’s traditional stronghold. The RSF evolved from Popular Defence Forces armed groups…accused of war crimes when al-Bashir’s government used them to help the army put down a rebellion. Popular Defence Forces members and became an independent force under Hemedti, who hails from Darfur’s camel-herding Arab Rizeigat people and has largely been in hiding since war broke out. This year, he visited leaders of other African states including Uganda, a move which was viewed by experts as an attempt to gain legitimacy as a political actor. Hemedti desperately needs people to feel the RSF is a governing force. I think this is why Hemedti went to meet heads of state, said Kholood Khair, a Sudan expert and founding dir of the think tank Confluence Advisory in Khartoum. The RSF’s legitimacy as a ruling force was also seen as supported by European policies such as the 2017 Khartoum Process, which designated and funded the group to act as border guards to stem African migration to Europe. While the RSF currently holds the military upper hand in active combat zones, reports of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and of looting aid, have severely undermined the group’s legitimacy among the Sudanese people. I think so many Sudanese…are never going to be comfortable with the RSF governing them, said Horner, who has worked with various think tanks such as the International Crisis Group, RSF’s atrocities and their hardcore cruelty…is probably their single biggest obstacle and makes the prospect of them governing the country far more difficult. Several other groups have also taken up arms. Many of the fighters battling the RSF are highly motivated [hardline Muslim] forces seeking to reclaim Sudan. That ideological motivation counts for a lot next to those who are there for pay, as many RSF fighters are. Some of the armed groups are loyal to the SAF. Additionally, civilians formed a coalition of their own in Oct called Taqaddum Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces….led by former PM Hamdok, and aimed to represent civilians in peace negotiations. The war has spread across several regions of the country and led to the collapse of infrastructural systems including healthcare and sanitation services, as well as causing thousands of deaths and displacement of millions. According to a UN report seen by Reuters 10,000-15,000 people had been killed in just one city, El Geneina, W Darfur last year. While some evacuation efforts were made in the early days of the war, largely supported foreign nationals. 8.2 million people of Sudan’s 49 million fled their homes since the fighting broke out….1.8m escaped across the country’s borders mostly to Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and So Sudan. Many have only been able to travel to those places by paying huge sums of money for bus tickets or walking for days and enduring very difficult journeys. 6.5m have been internally displaced across Sudan’s 18 states. The largest numbers of internally displaced persons are in S Darfur, River Nile and E Darfur. Half have been displaced from Khartoum state. After fighting began in Khartoum, it spilled into Darfur as well as parts of Kordofan, Blue Nile states and Merowe – near Egypt and River Nile which houses large gold mines and a military airport. The war pushed conflict-weary Darfur into an even more vulnerable position. There, Arab and non-Arab Masalit tribes have fought over scarce water and land resources for more than 20 years. Now, fighting has taken on its own ethnic dimension. An increasing number of testimonies and documents described attacks amounting to ethnic cleansing being perpetrated by Arab fighters alongside members of the RSF.
Sudan is experiencing a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. The country is grappling with acute shortages of food, clean water, medicines and fuel. Prices have skyrocketed as a result of the scarcity. Half of Sudan’s 49 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. 18 million are facing catastrophe levels of food insecurity, especially in W Darfur, Khartoum and among the IDPs. Aid groups are struggling to provide humanitarian assistance because of blocked access, security risks and other logistical challenges. In March, the UN was able to distribute food aid to W Darfur for the first time in months. Kholood Khair said famine has already taken hold, but the UN, which relies on the SAF to gain access to the Pt of Sudan, the fastest way to bring in aid by sea, has not yet confirmed this. Khair said overcoming famine is not just about organisations donating food and grain in the short term. The next agricultural season which begins in May, followed by harvest in Sept must be safeguarded or famine will worsen even if there is international aid: Sudan is a breadbasket, has been a breadbasket for the region, Africa, and Arab countries like the Saudis, the Qataris and the Emiratis who have had over the past decades invested a large amount of money in Sudan to feed their populations.
Sudan has been experiencing deadly outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, measles and malaria, according to UNOCHA. 65% of the population lacks access to healthcare and 70-80% of hospitals in conflict zones are no longer functional due to air raids, supply shortages and attacks on healthcare workers by both sides. Critical infrastructure, such as water treatment plants and power stations, have been damaged or completely destroyed in many places. In Darfur, schools are closed, keeping millions from receiving an education or being able to benefit from a safe space, according to the UN’s refugee agency. An increasing number of children have been separated from their families, and many have become exposed to sexual violence and trauma. Several efforts are under way to bring the war to an end, but their lack of success has been linked to regional rifts between the mediating countries, as well as competing interests among international players such as Russia, US, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Several ceasefire agreements have been reached but both sides have accused each other of continuing fighting. Negotiations between the warring sides are expected to begin in Jeddah on April 18. The city hosted several rounds of talks in 2023. This time there is speculation that 2 new actors may be included in the negotiations – Egypt, which has historically supported SAF; and UAE, which has sided with the RSF. Every ceasefire that was negotiated failed because the 2 main regional backers of the warring parties were not present. Talks are currently ongoing in Cairo led by the Emiratis and Egyptians. ….competing against the Saudi-backed Jeddah talks, and this internal tussle may hold back the potential to collectively drive peace. The US tried to move to the forefront of mediation efforts….Washington named member of Congress Perriello as special envoy which may also create a larger shift in diplomacy on the war. US allies in the region – Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar – now see the US is giving much more attention to what’s going on in Sudan, and they want to be prepared to sort of align with that. Another prominent actor in negotiations is IGAD, a regional body of 8 countries around the Horn of Africa. IGAD said it secured commitments from al-Burhan and Hemedti to implement a ceasefire and hold political dialogue. However, this was followed by al-Burhan suspending IGAD membership for inviting Hemedti to a summit….the bloc had set up a quartet committee including Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and So Sudan to address the crisis. The army eventually boycotted a meeting over accusations of Kenya’s lack of impartiality. Djibouti pres Guelleh is trying to bring al-Burhan back to the table. Following months of competing against Saudi Arabia for space in discussions, IGAD nominated an envoy for Sudan – Lawrence Korbandy – to be sent to the next Jeddah talks. Early in March, the UN Sec Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The RSF did not respond to al-Burhan’s condition that RSF should withdraw from provinces they had taken control of. AU attempted to broker peace last year. It began political dialogue among the military, civilian and social actors in a bid to resolve the conflict and establish a transitional civilian government. AU efforts did not deliver meaningful results. Khair said another issue is the existence of a mosaic of different armed actors – some aligned with either the SAF or RSF – who are also driving the war but who have not yet been included in peace talks. Their involvement in discussions will be essential, she said. Al Jazeera
April 6
Darfur: 2 children die of malnutrition every 12 hours. At least 2 children under the age of 6 die every 12 hours from causes related to malnutrition in Kalma IDP’s Camp in S Darfur. The Alight Health Centre received 62 severely malnourished children in Jan-Feb. But in March-April the cases multiplied where the center receives 14-18 malnutrition cases per day. Death rate among patients of chronic diseases, pregnant women and elders is very high due to acute malnutrition and lack of medical care. Abu Shoak Camp in al-Fashir is facing serious health challenges as respiratory system diseases are spreading, nutrition and environmental pollution problems. Also, there are increasing abortion cases due to unknown causes. Al Taghyeer
Abu Dhabi forms elite fighting unit for Sudan war….UAE formed elite fighting unit targeting recruitment of 3,000 soldiers to be deployed to the Sudan war arena….the purpose of Chad’s pres Deby’s current visit to Abu Dhabi is to approve this move. Deby met with leader of RSF Hemedti in Abu Dhabi. Since taking over as transitional president, Deby started to promote his country’s relations with UAE. Last June the 2 countries signed agreements in military, security, energy, mining and financial fields. Al Taghyeer
April 5
Stranded abroad by almost a year of war, Saudi Arabia’s swelling Sudanese community are drawn to Riyadh’s Little Khartoum where they can eat, pray and console each other about the conflict ravaging their country. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Sudanese men, some in traditional robes and turbans, gather daily for the fast-breaking iftar evening meal and prayers in Ghubairah area. The district, filled with Sudanese shops and restaurants, is a magnet for the growing numbers who have fled Sudan or find themselves unable to return because of safety fears. I can’t go back to Sudan as the situation is difficult, said Imad al-Dine Ahmed, 50-year-old trader who arrived last year on a pilgrimage to the holy city Mecca. Ahmed, who used to sell electrical appliances in Kosti, now relies on money transferred by his brother from Sudan to support him, his wife and mother, who live with him in Saudi. In Sudan there aren’t any stable services, not even for water and electricity, he told AFP, as he broke his day-time fast with Sudanese dishes of okra and chicken. A large percentage of Sudanese have come to Saudi Arabia and now need to be in a Sudanese atmosphere that will bring back memories, said Omar Arabi, who manages a Sudanese restaurant. Arabi, father of 6, helps oversee iftar gatherings on the pavement outside his restaurant, where dozens of men sit on carpets and cushions. Many of the Sudanese in the Saudi capital long for home but can’t go back because of the perilous journey….with frequent clashes and road closures, many are unwilling to travel by land from Pt Sudan to their home towns and villages. Those flying to Sudan can go there but once they arrive to Sudan, it’s very difficult to arrive to their area of residence. Bashir Abdel Azim, a sales manager at Sudan’s Badr Airlines, said the number of Sudanese travelling from Saudi has fallen sharply. Most people currently travel from Sudan to Saudi Arabia, and not the other way around, said Azim, trying to evacuate his own family. Issam Youssef, a Sudanese barber living in Saudi, said the danger of travel is not the only deterrent. The war has destroyed infrastructure and crippled the economy, leaving many unable to provide for their families. I am responsible for 17 people, said Youssef, who sends money back home from Saudi Arabia. Saleh Mohammed, who owns a sweet shop in Ghubairah, said the conflict left his neighbors dead and forced his family to flee Khartoum. What happened to the country we can never forget. Al Arabiya
First UN food aid in months arrives in Darfur as famine looms. The UN has begun distributing food in war-ravaged Darfur for the first time in months amid warnings of impending famine caused by a yearlong war and lack of access to food aid. 2 aid convoys crossed the border from Chad in March, carrying food and nutrition. The deliveries were the first WFP cross-border aid convoys…following lengthy negotiations to reopen humanitarian corridors from Chad after permission was revoked in Feb by authorities loyal to the Sudanese army. In Darfur, the situation has been particularly severe with brutal attacks by the RSF reviving fears of another genocide. Despite Fri’s aid delivery, WFP has been unable to schedule further convoys: We are extremely concerned that unless the people of Sudan receive a constant flow of aid via all possible humanitarian corridors – from neighbouring countries and across battle lines – the country’s hunger catastrophe will only worsen. Sudan’s cereal production in 2023 was nearly halved, according to a report by Food & Agriculture Org. The sharpest reductions were reported where conflict was most intense, Kordofan State and states in Darfur, where…production was 80% below average. While a separate convoy of trucks from Pt Sudan reached N Darfur, the route from Chad was vital if the humanitarian community stands a chance of preventing widespread starvation in W Darfur. Hunger in Sudan will only increase as the lean season starts in just a few weeks. I fear that we will see unprecedented levels of starvation and malnutrition sweep across Sudan. Al Jazeera
April 4
Public Prosecution affiliated with Army Commander Al-Burhan charged former PM Hamdok with crimes that are punishable by death. The army rose up against Hamdok in 2021, who is calling for negotiations to end the war between the army and the RSF militia. Public Prosecution filed a case against the former PM of the civilian government and 15 others including party leaders and journalists. They are accused of incitement to war against the state, undermining the constitutional order, and crimes against humanity. Hamdok was the first civilian PM after Al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019. He has lived outside Sudan since the coup led by Al-Burhan against his government in cooperation with his former deputy and current enemy Dagalo (Hemedti). Hamdok reached an agreement with Dagalo to begin negotiations to end the fighting. Middle East Monitor
April 1
Are civil society activists being targeted by both warring sides? In Sudan’s war, even making food for the poor is dangerous. RSF arrested activists from Sharq al-Nile in Khartoum while they were supervising soup kitchens feeding thousands of hungry people every day. The recent arrests are only part of a broader strategy of the RSF and SAF to clamp down on civil society actors by arresting volunteers, limiting access to aid and obstructing relief. Musab Mahjoub, a human rights monitor, told Al Jazeera. …RSF arrested activists running soup kitchens last month too. Local relief groups called on Western donors to support and protect them from warring parties profiteering off humanitarian aid. The response from the belligerents…has been to arrest, kidnap, rape and even kill local relief workers to maintain a tight grip over aid operations. With soup kitchens now in the crosshairs, these violations are exacerbating the food crisis…. Emergency Rms started as local initiatives ferrying vulnerable people out of neighbourhoods where clashes were occurring…administering first aid to the wounded. ERRs grew distinct from Resistance Comms and began soliciting donations from abroad to feed their hungry communities. But they are now facing similar threats to other civil activists. ERR volunteers operating in RSF-controlled areas say total lawlessness puts them in constant fear of being arbitrarily arrested, beaten or raped….activists who operate in SAF-controlled areas are targeted by military intelligence and security factions tied to the Kizan–a common name for members of Sudan’s political Islamic movement that ruled alongside al-Bashir. Key Kizan figures have come out of the shadows to support the army, …targeting civil society in revenge for it overthrowing them in 2019. ERR spokesperson said activists were targeted after the army recaptured neighbourhoods from the RSF in Omdurman: 2 youths were assassinated by the army…in the communal kitchen of a Sufi sheikh, Wad Elamin. But now the army is OK with the sheikh and he’s working and opened another kitchen. We also have members who had to flee because one of the militias fighting with the army started seeking out people who were part of [pro-democracy] protests. Weeks after war erupted, UN agencies and global relief groups that evacuated Khartoum finally set up field offices in Pt Sudan….the army has severely restricted UN agencies and aid groups from delivering relief to RSF-controlled regions. I’m worried there is an underlying policy position in general [from the army] to starve out certain parts of the country for direct or indirect reasons and to divert aid elsewhere, said the country dir of one international relief organisation. In the last month, no aid reached RSF-controlled areas….even when the UN obtains some clearances to move aid from Pt Sudan, they are not given security guarantees from RSF fighters: RSF is requesting payment in exchange for security guarantees,…But that’s something we won’t do, and can’t do. A Western aid worker…told Al Jazeera UN agencies and other global relief groups should be prioritising their humanitarian imperative over respecting the sovereignty of Sudan’s de facto military authorities. For months, global relief organisations and UN agencies lobbied for aid delivery access from So Sudan and Chad. Min of Foreign Affairs revoked WFP’s permission to provide food to W and Central Darfur. 3 days later, SAF approved WFP food shipments via Chad where both army and RSF troops are present. However, hundreds of thousands of people across W and Central Darfur are still starving. There is a global issue at play whereby global sovereignty is emerging as the international norm over our humanitarian imperative. Sudan is one of a multitude of contexts where we privilege state sovereignty over getting aid to vulnerable people. Meanwhile, the Western aid worker said their peers were frustrated that global relief agencies are not demonstrating more courage to get food to starving civilians, effectively abandoning the task to underfunded and unprotected local relief workers despite the grave risks they face. We are living by this idea that the consent the army in Pt Sudan matters more than the people starving…UN privileges the legal concept of sovereignty over a legitimate other legal concept, which is that people have a right to survive.
Darfurian children died after eating garbage. A number of starving children died after eating from a garbage dump in E Darfur, said spokesperson of Displaced People & Refugees Coordination Adam Rijal. Rijal affirmed the displaced people were eating the tree leaves after suspension of humanitarian aid. WFP halted transportation of food assistance to Darfur across Chad borders after Sudanese authorities banned such operations….it is unable to access 90% of those facing emergency levels of hunger. Rijal said the situations inside the displaced people camps are very difficult and nothing changed despite continuous appeals to the warring parties for allowing humanitarian
corridors for Darfur. He urged all concerned authorities to pressure the warring parties to allow immediate unhindered humanitarian access during the Muslim fasting month to save lives of millions. Al Taghyeer
March 31, 2024
Aid withheld while 37% of population face severe hunger. US rep to UN accused the RSF and the Armed Forces of undermining delivery of aid. RSF seized trucks carrying relief items on their way to N Darfur, while authorities in El Fasher withheld the transport of aid.…IPC Food security…said security threats, roadblocks and protection concerns limit humanitarian response and assessments: Only 5% of the UN’s humanitarian appeal for Sudan has been met so far, and WFP has been forced to cut aid to 7 million people…But humanitarian workers not only need funding, they are also simply unable to deliver aid to those in need. We have seen them in the field, often risking their lives to save people in Sudan, but their work is undermined by fighters on both sides every time. My words also apply to the Sudanese Armed Forces, which obstructed the passage of major humanitarian aid from Chad into Darfur. It is a matter of life and death in every sense of the word. A child dies every 2 hours in Zamzam Camp, and experts warn that 200,000 children could starve to death in coming weeks and months. We reiterate our call on the SAF to fully and immediately reopen all its border crossings with Chad for humanitarian purposes….Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Comm announced that 60 lorries carrying humanitarian aid crossed the border into W Darfur…Min of Foreign Affairs accused the RSF of confiscating a number of humanitarian aid trucks belonging to UNICEF….RSF began to prevent the arrival of humanitarian aid convoys…as they mobilised large numbers of their forces…to seize that aid. El Fasher received 200,000 25kg bags of flour…to be distributed to the 5 states of Darfur….The flour has not reached the rest of the states. Humanitarian Aid Commissioner in Nyala: …the Federal Aid Comm allocated 136,000 sacks of flour to S Darfur. A first batch of 40,000 sacks…reached El Fasher…there was no way to transport the aid to Nyala due to the insecurity and fighting in the city, in addition to the government’s inability to provide the costs of transport, so the shares of all states were stored in El Fasher. The gov of W Darfur and humanitarian aid commissioners of Central and E Darfur denied having received their part of the flour: we wonder why the regional government did not deliver the aid to those affected in W Darfur?….authorities began transferring flour and rice from El Fasher but the loading was stopped by military intelligence officers without giving any reason. Dabanga
March 28
The feasts and festivities of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan have been muted this year with millions of people displaced from their homes and struggling with hunger as war nears the 1-year mark. All what we were accustomed to, how we eat, drink, meet people in Ramadan, …all of that is no longer available, Mohamed Ali, who broke his fast in a displacement center in Pt Sudan to which many fled from Khartoum and active war zones. In the past, Ramadan was marked by large communal night-time gatherings. Now Ali and millions of others rely on community kitchens from volunteers for a pared-down Iftar meal. The war has tested the Sudanese reputation for generosity and hospitality. This war has…scared some people away, but it did not stop others from staying as they are, opening their doors and houses for anyone to come inside, Sheikh Khalid Abdul Rahman, an imam in Omdurman, a city that has seen intense fighting. Everyone has had enough of war. We need, God willing with his power, to stop the war once and for all, Hanan Hassan at a community kitchen in Omdurman. Al Arabiya
Several human rights organisations called on Egyptian authorities to end serious abuses against Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers. 27 local, regional and international groups asserted that Sudanese asylum seekers have been detained in inhuman conditions, stood unfair trials and forcibly returned to Sudan in violation of Egypt’s international obligations, well-established human rights principles and agreements, and Egypt’s constitution. …a decree was passed by PM Madbouly in Aug that stipulated that foreigners unlawfully living in the country could apply for residency and be given a 3-month grace period. …arrests and deportation campaigns began in late Aug and are ongoing in Cairo, Giza, Aswan, Red Sea, Marsa Matrouh, Alexandria provinces and along the southern border. While detained, they are denied access to their families, advocates and UNHCR. Detainees live in inhumane conditions in detention centres, denied visits and access to health care. Authorities prevented UNHCR from registering detainees’ names….even deported Sudanese who are registered with UNHCR in Egypt and with valid residency…waiting to register. Egypt’s restrictions have resulted in an irregular migration movement. This comes with high risks that include exploitation, suspicions of trafficking and fraud….instead of protecting asylum seekers, Egypt has adopted a punishment policy. Egypt’s Border Guard Forces…detain Sudanese migrants, including women and children, in camps that are not registered….detainees are not allowed to communicate with the outside world and denied access to UNHCR services and legal counsel. Egypt has long been a favoured destination for refugees fleeing wars and economic hardships, either as a refuge or a transit country en route to Europe. Before the war broke out, well-off Sudanese families commonly visited Egypt for healthcare services at private hospitals or sent their children to study at Egyptian universities. …Since the war broke out thousands have crossed the border into Egypt to seek refuge. The New Arab
Covering the conflict has now become a death wish. Nadine Ita, journalist from Omdurman, decided to stay despite the odds and help her community heal during this difficult time. Nadine left for Shendi, in northern Sudan. However, upon arrival, she was faced with more harassment and tight surveillance by the SAF. Her profession made her a suspect, and authorities were quick to deem her a traitor spying for the RSF. With her movement severely restricted and her life endangered, Nadine left for Uganda. While investigating the conditions of displaced women in a government-run shelter, a photojournalist found herself unexpectedly detained and interrogated by state security officers, despite prior approval from shelter management. She believes the situation escalated because she was a woman: SAF officers deleted the recordings but didn’t take any further action because I had shown cooperation. I was fortunate because I was only recording audio and didn’t bring my camera. Nadine recounts how she stopped covering any war-related stories out of fear for her life, but she struggled to believe how even a humanitarian piece on victims of the war nearly got her arrested: There are countless incursions that need to be reported, but because we’re trapped here within Sudan, we can’t do anything about it,. Perhaps those who have managed to escape can tell you all about it, but for those of us here, fear has muffled our voices. It was Fa’ez Abu Bakr’s sense of duty that drove him to document military checkpoints in…Khartoum. Yet, for all his resolve, standing a few feet away from a checkpoint, Fa’ez still hoped for the best: RSF soldiers opened fire without warning. I was shot in the back before I could escape….I was detained on charges of treason in a makeshift detention centre where I was tortured, beaten with clubs, and hosed down for 2 days before I was released. Since the outbreak of hostilities journalists have suffered escalating violations at the hands of both factions. Fa’ez is among 249 journalists who were documented victims of threats, torture or death in the wake of the conflict, as per the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate: I left Sudan…after the RSF took hold of Al-Jazirah State, I packed my belongings and sought refuge in Kefeel Securenya with the hope of returning one day to a Sudan that is safe and prosperous. Journalists in Sudan are caught in the crossfire….neither side of the conflict acknowledges the notion of independent journalism, often levelling accusations against those who practice it, which puts the lives of journalists covering the war…in grave danger. It is obvious that both show little concern for the freedom of the press and the lives of journalists documenting the civil war, Secy of SJS, Mohammed Abdulaziz, says. The syndicate is applying pressure on both sides to respect these fundamental rights. SJS data revealed a surge in infractions against journalists in Khartoum and Darfur, where hundreds faced various injustices ranging from unlawful arrests to murder. The systemic targeting has forced the majority of media institutions to cease operations, leaving 90% of journalists with unpaid dues and no viable source of income. Since the start of the war, not a single institution has provided journalists with protective equipment such as bulletproof vests and helmets, Mostafa Saeed, photojournalist in Omudurman. After an artillery shell reduced his family home to rubble, Mostafa had to leave for relatively safer Pt Sudan: Working as a journalist in Omudurman was dangerous. There is no protection from either warring faction, and reporters are often accused with grave charges such as espionage, which carry penalties ranging from imprisonment to execution. The disruption of communications and the internet has left us incapable of carrying out our daily duties. SJS released the first annual report on press freedom in Sept documenting violations against journalists and media institutions. …continue to monitor and track crimes committed against journalists to ensure their safety and security, but fail to see tangible results. One photographer told The New Arab many refrained from identifying as journalists at checkpoints out of fear for their lives, describing how carrying the SJS membership card can cost a journalist their life.
March 27
El Gezira Resistance Comms accuse RSF of killing 43 during first 5 days of Ramadan. …launching attacks on 28 villages in El Gezira…forcing numerous families to flee. Residents…face the looming threat of famine due to looting of crops and food supplies, lack of cash, and the disruption of communication networks. The Resistance Comm statement to Radio Dabanga specifically accused the RSF of carrying out 2 attacks on villages in Rufaa, resulting in deaths of 7. RSF’s repeated attacks resulted in looting livestock, vehicles, electronic devices and household essentials. Urgent appeals have been issued by Resistance Comms to lift the siege on several villages, where violent clashes erupted as residents attempted to repel attacking forces. …
N Darfur government official accused RSF of detaining trucks carrying critical aid for malnourished children in El Fasher. Hundreds of children are struggling with malnutrition, with 268 cases in El Fasher alone. These children require immediate, life-saving assistance. UNICEF dispatched 6 trucks loaded with food supplies. RSF detained 3 trucks….the trucks carried essential supplies, including milk and ready-to-use therapeutic food specifically designed to treat malnourished children under 5. UNICEF estimates 3.5m children will face acute malnutrition this year, with 700,000 suffering from its most severe form. This dire situation is compounded by delayed aid deliveries and the recent destruction of the only factory producing therapeutic food. RSF faces accusations of looting humanitarian aid warehouses in areas under their control, including a WFP facility in Al-Jazira State containing enough food to sustain 1.5m people for a month. Sudan Tribune
Heba Al-Makki, Central Comm of Health Officers, calls for urgent environmental health surveys in war-affected states. The extensive use of explosives and landmines poses a significant threat to returning displaced people. Al-Makki emphasized the need for scientifically conducted environmental assessments. …to determine if the environment is safe for displaced populations to return home. The disruption of sanitation services and disease control efforts raises red flags: If rumours of landmines planted in Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri are true, the lives of citizens returning home are in grave danger. She urged authorities to clarify the situation and, if landmines are present, provide maps for safe removal. Al-Makki outlined several challenges….looting and destruction of specialized labs, hospitals and pesticide stores, potential leakage of dangerous materials, samples and toxins from damaged sites, decomposing bodies left behind…potential resurgence of pre-war diseases dengue and malaria due to a halt in control efforts. She acknowledged the efforts of the Min of Health and volunteers who buried a significant number of bodies in Omdurman.
March 26
The voluntary Emergency Rms in Khartoum State had launched a centralized kitchens project to feed the stranded population following closure of relief corridors to conflict areas. The Observatory said it monitored a systematic RSF campaign of arrests in recent days against the supervisors of the kitchens. …central kitchens reached 150,000 citizens. These kitchens represented the only refuge after the dramatic rise in food prices. Famine is imminent given the current security situations. The Observatory warned that targeting volunteers and supervisors could lead to complete cessation, a death sentence for thousands of families: These kitchens may go out of service, a matter that may aggravate the situation.
March 25
Gen Coordination for Displaced Persons & Refugees reveals 561 children died from food shortages and malnutrition in just 11 months. This translates to a devastating average of 17 child deaths daily. 13.6m children desperately need life-saving humanitarian aid – the highest number ever recorded in the country. UNICEF predicted a grim outlook, 700,000 children would suffer severe malnutrition in 2024, potentially leading to tens of thousands of deaths. 5.9m displaced people in Darfur face severe food shortages, with many suffering malnutrition. Basic necessities like fortified food for pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly are critically lacking. There’s a critical shortage of life-saving medicines, and primary healthcare centres shutting down due to a lack of personnel and supplies. 70% of water sources are inoperable. 1m children in camps suffer from acute malnutrition. Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan estimates $2.7bn is needed to support 14.7m people….a mere 3.1% is available. International humanitarian organizations brace for a significant rise in illnesses, deaths and worsening malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women. Sudan Tribune
9 civilians were killed, and 14 injured including children, in an air raid on El Fasher, the 2nd attack by the Air Force within 24 hours. Resistance Comms said warplanes launched air strikes on El Fasher, El Wifag, El Masnaa and Sharg El Wehda which led to the destruction of homes and factories and displacement of people. Kutum, under control of the RSF, witnessed aerial bombardments near the town. Yesterday the Air Force launched raids on the RSF at Halouf Gate in El Fasher. Sat, 2 women were killed, and others injured in El Gubba as a result of shelling. Mutual shelling last week destroyed the N Darfur Min of Livestock and injured several displaced people and destroyed homes in Abu Shouk Camp. RSF, which occupied Nyala and Zalingei in Oct and El Geneina and Ed Daein a month later, continue attempts to seize El Fasher, the last capital of the 5 Darfur states that remains for a large part under the control of the Armed Forces. El Fasher is where the government of Darfur resides and is home to Darfur Joint Forces – rebel combatants of SLM led by Minawi, gov of Darfur, breakaway SLM groups and factions of Justice & Equality Movement. In April, SAF gained control, prompting RSF’s retreat to the camps for the displaced and further north. Then N Darfur Gov Abdelrahman, former rebel leader, managed with Native Admin leaders, police officers and civil society activists, to make the warring parties agree on a ceasefire and extend it….Security conditions began to deteriorate rapidly in Oct as violent clashes erupted again and led to mass displacement. 85% of northern neighbourhoods fled their homes for safer areas in El Fasher, Mellit or even Libya. Renewed SAF-RSF battles erupted last month, prompting fears that rebel combatants would get involved in fighting. RSF taking full control of the city would ignite strife between Arab tribes supporting the RSF and the Zaghawa Tribe from which most N Darfur rebel fighters hail, and lead to a catastrophic bloodbath. Dabanga
March 24
8 Sudanese human rights and civil society organisations, operating under the banner Wadeitum wein/Where did you take them? provided vital data to the UN High Comm for Human Rights. The data, concerning victims of enforced disappearance…is slated for inclusion in the 79th session before the Gen Assembly. The Wadeitum wein coalition, comprising prominent organisations such as Sudanese Journalists Network and Sudanese Lawyers Democratic Front, emphasised their continued dedication to addressing human rights violations, especially the alarming surge in enforced disappearances. …coalition members expressed concern over Sudan’s absence from last year’s OHCHR report despite the gravity of the situation and the accuracy of the information provided. They underscored the urgency of shedding light on the plight of missing individuals, particularly women and children, urging concerted efforts to halt these crimes and reveal the whereabouts of the disappeared. Lawyer Osman El Basri, coalition partner and member of Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearance, stressed the significance of joint coordination between UN and local activists in conflict zones to ensure the accuracy of information. He called for enhanced cooperation to facilitate the work of international fact-finding committees, advocating for measures akin to those taken in Darfur to refer investigation files to the ICC. The group achieved a breakthrough as Public Prosecution granted approval to file criminal cases related to 451 missing persons since the conflict erupted in April. Recent reports highlight a surge in cases across various regions, with Wad Madani, El Hasaheisa and Jebel Aulia among the worst affected. In these areas alone, 1000 individuals, including 96 women, have been documented as missing. Both sides of the conflict face accusations from voluntary and human rights organisations of unlawful detention operations targeting civilians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Darfur Gov Minawi stressed that seizure of al-Gezira State represents the peak of the crisis….his forces are heading to Khartoum to fight alongside the SAF against the paramilitaries RSF. Minawi cited numerous violations committed by the RSF in many cities of Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and al-Gezira. He said seizure of al-Gezira State represents the peak of the crisis because of the crimes of rape, homes intrusion and looting of properties: The Movement decided to help in returning houses of the citizens and sovereignty of the state from those who came from different countries and provoked the people by raping women and occupying homes and facilities. Redaction AfricaNews
Violent clashes continue in Khartoum Bahri threatening to escalate Sudan’s already dire humanitarian situation and putting at risk the lives of thousands of residents who still haven’t left the city. Ongoing combat…supports our recent assessment that fighting is due to escalate in the city, which could become the next main theatre of combat operations in the war, in addition to Al Jazira State, where the army promised to launch a counter-offensive. Bahri and E Nile have gone for 3 weeks without electricity, due to a possibly deliberate cutoff from neighboring Omdurman. According to the E Nile Emergency Rm, electricity and communication networks have been cut off for nearly 40 days. The power outage led to the stop of pumps drawing water from wells, pushing residents to travel long distances to get water. Continued disruption of communication networks hinders communication with volunteers providing humanitarian services. Babanusa Emergency Rm warned of risks of famine, thirst and disease threatening the lives of those displaced from the city. Evacuees in Al-Meiram, W Kordofan, suffer malnutrition and diarrhea cases. Radio Tamazuj says displaced camps are infested with flies and rife with cases of watery diarrhea. Attacks on medical facilities and the repurposing of hospitals for military uses has destroyed the healthcare system in large parts of Sudan’s capital region. Al-Amal Hosp has been at or near the frontline since last year. This is not the first time RSF have been seen using Russian-made Kornet missiles. Previously, they fired Kornet missiles across the Nile toward Wadi Saidna military area. Khartoum N Light Industrial Area, which hosted large numbers of RSF troops, suffered extensive damage due to mortar attacks and airstrikes. SAF previously targeted non-military commercial activity in RSF-controlled areas. Sudan War Monitor
A dozen civilians have been killed and many more wounded, in ongoing air strikes and ground operations by warring SAF and RSF in W Kordofan and El Gezira states. The medical Emergency Rm of Babanousa in W Kordofan reported the death of a woman and 2 children, and 4 wounded in Shuaa. They were killed in aerial bombardments, allegedly by the Air Force. …the army’s warplanes carried out air strikes on the countryside…targeting Shuaa, which houses 618 displaced families who fled the war taking place in Babanousa….there are no RSF troops in the villages and countryside of Babanousa. 5 people were killed, and others injured in El Hasaheisa and Rufaa in El Gezira in attacks reportedly launched by RSF….Sheikh Bilal village was subjected to an RSF attack. A young man was shot dead. In village Wad Bahai, 2 people were killed in an RSF raid for a 3rd time in the past few months. The attackers robbed villagers of their remaining cars, money and valuables. RSF plundered Um Deleiba village in Tabit. They fired at the inhabitants, killing 1 man and injuring several.
Resistance Comms of Rufaa reported the death of a young man and injury of 4 in an RSF raid of Dalut El Bahar. Hasaheisa Resistance Comm announced the killing of a man village during an RSF attack onAbu Adara….injury of 2 villagers in attacks by RSF on El Kubar and Nayel…in an attempt to establish bases. When the people of the villages strongly expressed their objection, the RSF fired gunshots at the villagers, wounding 3. RSF attacked Tenoub a 2nd time since they took control of El Gezira and stole all the flour and crop stocks, furniture, and everything they could get their hands on. Dabanga
Intl Rescue Committee’s Emergency Watchlist analyzes which countries are most likely to experience a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. This year, Sudan tops the list due to escalating conflict, mass displacement, an economic crisis and near collapse of health care services. IRC and other humanitarian organizations were forced to relocate their staff. Amidst mass displacement and reports of mass killings, humanitarian access has been severely curtailed, making it extremely hard for aid to reach vulnerable communities. 12,000 people have been killed, with 5.9m displaced within the country, making it the largest internal displacement crisis globally. 7.2m people fled their homes with children representing about half. Sudan is now the country with the largest number of displaced people and the largest child displacement crisis in the world. Expansion of the conflict into Sudan’s breadbasket, Al Jazirah State, displaced 500,000 people and exacerbated the food crisis. Meanwhile, the looting of businesses, markets and humanitarian aid warehouses will further contribute to food shortages. While the conflict continues to spread, humanitarian access has become more limited. Intense violence and movement restrictions on humanitarian actors prevented the delivery of aid, especially in the south where needs are highest.
Raouda holds her newborn child in IRC’s health center in Gaga refugee camp, Chad.
The health care system is suffering from an acute lack of staff, funding and medical supplies…repeated attacks, looting and occupation of medical facilities and hospitals. 70% of health facilities in conflict-affected regions are inoperable or closed. The displacement of civilians has placed an additional strain on health care resources, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene services. An outbreak of measles claimed the lives of 1,000 children The country is also grappling with a severe cholera outbreak, with… cases surpassing 8,500 in Dec, increased by 94% over the past month. With high rates of malnutrition, a debilitated health system and low levels of immunization, disease outbreaks will continue to have catastrophic impacts, particularly for children. Prior to the outbreak of conflict, Sudan’s economy was marred by rampant inflation and shortages of essential goods, leading to protests across the country. Nearly half of Sudan’s population is unemployed while the pound lost 50% of value. In Khartoum, factories, banks, shops and markets have been looted or damaged, reducing access to goods, services and cash. 10,400 schools in conflict-affected areas are shuttered, leaving 19m children without education and at risk of abuse or exploitation. 37% of the population is experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity. Every day, millions of mothers and fathers are having to make impossible choices to feed their families, often going days without any food. A hunger crisis of unimaginable proportions is not a future concern, but a present reality in certain parts of the country. The displacement stemming from conflict is driving labor shortages throughout the country. The cost of fuel is rising, impacting agricultural production, while high food prices and low purchasing power. Shortcomings in Sudan’s harvest season could push food prices even higher. Conflict has severely disrupted people’s ability to cultivate crops, disrupted markets, led to massive displacement, impacted people’s earnings, and restricted people’s access to aid, which left millions of people without access to enough food, says IRC E Africa. Delaying action until a famine is officially declared is morally unacceptable and will only lead to further suffering and loss of life. IRC provides protection and empowerment services for women and children, including gender-based violence survivors in Blue Nile, Gederaf, Khartoum and S Kordofan. IRC aims to solidify its presence in new locations, such as the Red Sea and Darfur, to address gaps in humanitarian coverage and expand programming. IRC operations were suspended in Al Jazirah State. The situation is being monitored and IRC will renew operations when possible. The fact that women and children make up such a large proportion of the new arrivals in Chad is particularly worrying because they are often the most vulnerable groups in conflict situations, Women and children are at greater risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse, and they may also face difficulties accessing basic necessities such as food, water and healthcare. In Chad, IRC is providing drinking water and running mobile health clinics to attend to the vast health needs of the arriving population. IRC is working to scale up its support in sanitation, and hygiene, health, and protection.
March 23
Overcrowded refugee camps in Chad are set to run out of money soon, exacerbating a dire humanitarian crisis caused by the spillover from deadly conflict in Sudan. More than a million people in Chad, including refugees, face losing access to lifesaving aid unless more funding is raised, WFP said. In Chad, refugee numbers are at
Sudanese refugees displaced by the conflict gather to receive food staples.
a 20-year high. UN warned the conflict is on course to become the world’s worst hunger crisis, with 1/3 of Sudan’s 18m people facing acute food insecurity already. At refugee camps, lack of clean drinking water and sanitation is causing dangerous diseases to spread. Doctors Without Borders recorded 1,000 cases of hepatitis E in camps and several pregnant women died: The situation is dire in all camps, Erneau Mondesir, Med Coordinator. Without swift action to improve sanitation infrastructure and enhance people’s access to clean water, we risk witnessing a surge in preventable illnesses and unnecessary loss of life. At Metche Camp sheltering 40,000 refugees people are in dire need of water, food, shelter and basic sanitation. Water shortages are causing diseases to spread, and aid workers fear a catastrophe if supplies run out. Finances and aid supplies at humanitarian operations are critically low. This will increase competition over resources between refugees and host communities, further fueling local tensions and regional instability, Andrew Smith, Verisk Maplecroft. Redaction AfricaNews
March 8
Horror in el-Gezira as RSF invasion prompts widespread abuse….eyewitnesses describe incidents of murder, abduction and rape…. In Dec, RSF stormed into el-Gezira State, scattering already displaced civilians and the retreating army as it took control of the country’s 2nd-largest city, Wad Madani. RSF fighters and unaffiliated criminal gangs have killed, raped and abducted civilians, looting their homes, robbing them and burning down buildings. In one particularly shocking incident, a young woman was raped by 16 RSF soldiers. The incident was confirmed by the girl’s family and their neighbour, but the family did not want to provide details because of the shame and stigma attached to the assault. The raped girl is the daughter of one of my neighbours in our village, an eyewitness told Middle East Eye. An RSF soldier asked to marry her. We rejected that because she is very young. But the soldier took her and suddenly he had been joined by 15 others, who took turns raping her. One of her relatives tried to defend her, but they shot him dead in front of everyone. Hundreds of activists launched the Save Gezira campaign to record atrocities committed by the RSF after internet access was cut. 1,000 civilians have been killed in RSF attacks across the state though estimates vary. Multiple witnesses said civilians were also dying because of a lack of available medicine, and thousands had been injured in ongoing attacks. Local sources have alleged that dozens of women have been raped or abducted by RSF fighters or criminal gangs, which spread across the state since Feb. Harvests have been burnt. There is a dire shortage of medicine and food, and what is left is prohibitively expensive. A spokesperson for one of Wad Madani’s Resistance Comms said…we can’t reach all the victims because of the internet being cut. In al-Hasaheisa, another Resistance Comm spokesman said the RSF used the cover of the internet blackout to invade 53 villages that have no military garrisons or army presence. 70% of people in the villages of western el-Gezira have been displaced, the health situation is disastrous as there are no medicines, and the majority of elderly people and those who have chronic diseases have died. In one massacre, in the village al-Sharif Mukhtar, they killed about 14 people in an hour. They killed and injured dozens of people in villages Alnaob, Wad Albaseer and Alhalaween, among other villages. In the eastern part of el-Gezira, many people have been killed and injured in attacks on different villages. Wad Madani spokesperson said they docmented many cases of rape, abduction and other atrocities across el-Gezira: The Janjaweed has abducted many girls in many different villages. We cannot account for all of it because of the internet blackout but we can confirm through many witnesses that it has happened….we can confirm that there are many cases. However, people are afraid of the stigma, so they don’t like to talk publicly about it. RSF is still surrounding Wad Madani, looting it, robbing people and humiliating them in their own homes and at checkpoints. RSF targeted the harvests of farmers across the state, as well as looting the stores of aid organisations. RSF has a systematic plan to use this massive violence to impose demographic change, to occupy el-Gezira and take over the Gezira scheme, referring to one of the world’s largest irrigation projects, which is vital to the agricultural output…of the whole country. Senior figures connected to al-Bashir and Sudanese Islamic Movement that supported him are part of the coalition supporting the army against the RSF. They have also circulated a letter showing that Burhan ordered his infantry to withdraw from Wad Madani. Abdul Salam, who fled to Sennar, said army infantry failed to protect civilians displaced by the assault: We walked to al-Managil to flee from RSF attacks and humiliation and when we saw the army, we believed we would be protected. We were shocked when they said they had no orders to fight outside the military base. Tired after over 8 hours of walking, Salam and his companions asked the army soldiers if they could get some weapons to defend themselves. They were rebuffed.