August 1
GLOBAL HUNGER MONITOR DECLARES FAMINE IN CAMP IN N DARFUR. The war and restrictions on aid deliveries have caused famine in at least 1 camp for displaced people in N Darfur, according to a report by the global authority on food security. Famine Review Comm found famine ongoing in the Zamzam Camp for internally displaced people and likely to persist at least until Oct. Zamzam has a population of 500,000. FRC said it is plausible similar conditions were affecting other areas in Darfur including the displaced persons camps Abu Shouk and Al Salam. Doctors Without Borders decried “repeated attacks on healthcare facilities” in el-Fashir…. that children in the area are “at death’s door” due to restrictions on food and medical supplies. Reuters reported some Sudanese have been forced to eat leaves and soil, and satellite imagery showed cemeteries expanding fast as starvation and disease spread. …satellite images identified 14 burial grounds in Darfur that expanded rapidly in recent months. 1 cemetery in Zamzam grew 50% faster between March 28-May 3 than in the preceding 3 1/2 months. Al Jazeera
MSF OUTRAGED BY REPEATED ATTACKS ON HOSPITALS IN EL FASHER, causing the already heavy death toll to rise even further, while the ongoing blockage on urgently needed medical supply trucks is putting more lives at risk. July 29, an attack on Saudi Hosp marked the 10th time a hospital had been hit in the city since fighting escalated 80 days ago. The shelling took place while El Fasher was under attack by RSF. 2,170 wounded people have been treated at MSF-supported hospitals in El Fasher, and 300 have passed away from their injuries. As more and more wounded flood into Saudi Hosp and MSF’s trucks continue to be held by the RSF, medical supplies are rapidly running out, putting life-saving activities even more at risk: “We do not know if hospitals are being intentionally targeted, but the incident shows the belligerents are not taking any precautions to spare them. They are not making any efforts to prevent the death of civilians or ensure the protection of patients and medical staff. At least 9 people have been killed in 10 attacks on hospitals in El Fasher over 80 days. The warring parties are well aware of the location of Saudi Hosp and they are also well aware it is the last remaining public hospital in the city. It has been hit 4 times, and if it goes out of service… there will be nowhere left in the city for the injured, or women in need of life-saving emergency C-sections, to receive surgery. Children in need of treatment are now being treated in a small health clinic with limited equipment – or, if they have war injuries, in Saudi Hosp.” MSF supply trucks have been held in Kabkabiya by the RSF for 4 weeks, which could soon leave Saudi Hosp without essential supplies. “Our trucks left in Chad 6 weeks ago and they should have reached El Fasher by now, but we have no idea when they will be released…. we only have enough surgical kits left to treat 100 people. We desperately need our trucks to arrive. But they do not only contain supplies for Saudi Hosp – they also contain therapeutic food and medical supplies for children in Zamzam Camp, where there is a catastrophic malnutrition crisis. …we only have enough therapeutic food left to last another few weeks. Already, many children there are at death’s door. These supplies are needed to save their lives.” Altaghyeer
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT OF AL BURHAN COMES AFTER HE VISITED EGYPT TO DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR WAR EFFORT AND SIGNALS THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE WARRING SIDES IS WIDENING. The attack is indicative of the paramilitary force which continues to stage hit and run attacks as part of its touted “popular” revolution against the Islamic remnants of Al-Bashir. Coupled with RSF’s slick media war, …it appears the paramilitary force is in the ascendency. The media team continues to produce high quality posts on social media announcing great victories and the humanitarian services it provides in areas under its control. RSF controls a little less than 35-40% of the country. RSF’s limited progress has been impeded by the lack of a nationwide command structure….the group relies on skirmishes designed to destabilise the army. Last month, RSF announced that its forces seized an army hqs and the bridge linking Sinnar and Gedaref States. According to the UN OCHA “55,400 people fled Singa,” capital of Sinnar, due to the clashes. The victims of these tactical surprise operations and counter attacks by both sides resulted in internal and external displacement and high estimated civilian death. Many Sudanese are convinced neither side wants peace or are committed to work for the interest of the people. Both sides have been accused of sexual violence and indiscriminate genocidal acts and massacres across the country but especially in Darfur. With huge disagreements among political elites there are no signs of a move towards peace ….The positions between the sides have been polarised by on-going accusations that the government in the Emirates is supporting the RSF. Al-Burhan made a clear statement: “We will not negotiate with a person who supports his enemy and stands with him.” Sudan’s ambassador…Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed accused the UAE of arming the RSF militia and insisted that the Sudanese government has evidence of the weapons supply which it will submit to the ICC…. the Sec Council must “walk the extra mile by naming and shaming the UAE.” Meanwhile, the deepening humanitarian crisis has forced many political groups to suspend or abandon political activities to concentrate on saving the lives of citizens in danger. Salafiah, Annar Sunnah movement and Muslim Brotherhood have broadened the relief work across the country. With ½ of Sudan’s population projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity, if no political or military solution is found, aid agencies estimate 2.5m people could starve to death. Although the actual numbers are unclear; what is clear is the end of the battle is nowhere in sight. Middle East Monitor
AL BURHAN SAYS THE MILITARY WILL NOT JOIN TALKS NEXT MONTH IN SWITZERLAND AIMED AT ENDING MORE THAN A YEAR OF FIGHTING. Al-Burhan made the statement shortly after…a drone strike at Gibeit army base that killed at least 5 peopl: “We are not scared of drones. We will not retreat, we will not surrender and we will not negotiate,” al-Burhan told troops. Dabanga
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT ACCUSING RSF OF WIDESPREAD ACTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN AREAS OF KHARTOUM they control. RSF and rival SAF have attacked healthcare facilities and harassed healthcare workers and responders. ‘Khartoum is No Longer Safe for Women: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan’s Capital’ documents widespread sexual violence, instances of gang rape, forcing women and girls into marriage, and rape of men and boys while in military detention. HRW documented 262 cases of sexual violence with victims 9-60 years old. 42 healthcare providers, social workers, psychologists, lawyers and community responders were interviewed. 18 “provided direct medical care or psychosocial support to survivors”. Service providers treating victims said people bore immense physical, emotional, social and psychological scars, some seeking help for “debilitating physical injuries they experienced during rapes and gang rapes”. Some interviewees “heard reports from women and girls of being held by the RSF in conditions that could amount to sexual slavery”. Some victims reported being raped by up to 5 RSF fighters. RSF abducted women and girls, detaining them in homes and facilities in Khartoum …Bahri and Omdurman, where they were subjected to sexual violence and other abuses. RSF members sexually assaulted women and girls in front of their families. RSF forces forced women and girls into marriage. “I slept with a knife under my pillow for months in fear from the raids that led to rape by the RSF,” a 20-year-old woman living in an area controlled by the RSF told HRW. “Since this war started, it is not safe anymore for a woman to live in Khartoum.” Many victims faced significant difficulties obtaining abortions for pregnancies. Survivors exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression, including suicidal thoughts, anxiety, fear and insomnia. “I spoke to a rape victim who just discovered she was 3 months pregnant,” said a psychiatrist. “She was clearly shocked, shaken and terrified of her family’s reaction: ‘If they find out about my condition, they will kill me.’” Mohamed Osman told Radio Dabanga while the real number of cases cannot be confirmed, “there has been widespread sexual violence in Khartoum since the beginning of the conflict, targeting women, girls and sometimes men. Most violations have been attributed to RSF members, but some were also attributed to the army, especially in Omdurman”. Osman pointed out that the SAF continues to obstruct aid delivery through administrative orders, and delays in issuing visas and movement orders, particularly in areas controlled by the RSF. HRW found that neither side has taken meaningful steps to prevent their forces from committing rape or attacking healthcare facilities and has failed to conduct independent and transparent investigations into these crimes. Dabanga
July 29
SUDAN WITNESSES LIMITED GROUND FIGHTING IN RECENT DAYS, BUT ARTILLERY AND AERIAL ATTACKS CONTINUE TO KILL CIVILIANS and damage infrastructure. 2 days after the US ceasefire invitation, SAF bombed Al-Alaqa Mkt in White Nile. The next day explosions ripped through Gandahar Mkt in Ombada…. The market previously was attacked by a suspected SAF drone in May. The following day RSF shelled residential neighborhoods in El Fasher, N Darfur. 600 people have died in El Fasher since RSF intensified a siege of the city. At Garri Refinery north of Khartoum, fires rage in parts of the sprawling industrial complex. In Khartoum fire erupted at the Communications Tower. Many of Khartoum’s downtown buildings are pockmarked by bullet holes and gutted by fires. Khartoum’s downtown, once the beating heart of the country politically and economically, is shockingly desolate and devastated. RSF sent patrols into the countryside at the edge of Sennar State. This agricultural area was uncontested as the RSF hadn’t yet claimed the area and SAF had withdrawn. A large no-man’s land still separates RSF from the SAF frontline. Doctors Without Borders says there are currently more than 120 severely malnourished children in Damazin Teaching Hosp malnutrition ward, exceeding 100% capacity. … it has recently become more difficult to supply the hospital due to escalating conflict and the rainy season. Tribal clashes erupted in Blue Nile State between Hausa and Arab Zendiya tribes. Floods caused by heavy rains engulfed Kassala, affecting displacement camps.
SUDANESE CONGRESS PARTY, OPPOSED TO THE WAR, ACCUSED FOREIGN MIN OF TARGETING MEMBERS BY DENYING IDENTITY CARDS AND PASSPORTS. The Min is accused of discrimination on an ethnic basis. Emergency Lawyers said a so-called security cell in Gedaref consisting of MI, Gen Intelligence Svc and police in cooperation with sympathetic prosecutors and local judges, continues to commit widespread mass arrests: “Gedaref is witnessing intense cell activity, detains civilians on a tribal and regional basis in addition to activists calling for an end to the war.” Sudanese Teachers Comm launched a “great campaign to stop the War in Sudan” under the slogan “Teachers are Builders of Civilizations & Advocates of Peace.” The campaign released video messages from teachers speaking out against the war. A number of trade unions, university groups and political parties announced solidarity with the campaign. Sudan War Monitor
July 28
AFRICAN UNION AND KEY CIVILIAN COALITION FAILED TO AGREE ON AGENDA FOR 2ND MEETING FOR INTER-SUDANESE POLITICAL DIALOGUE. AU hosted a meeting with Democratic Civil Forces Coordination/Tagadum but did not reach a consensus. Tagadum boycotted the 1st meeting, citing concerns over possible involvement of the former ruling NCP of al-Bashir. …the group may continue its boycott if AU does not address its concerns. Sudan Tribune learnt that AU High-Level Panel members held informal meetings last week with an NCP leader to discuss… potential involvement in the dialogue. Participants officially agreed to exclude the NCP from the political process following the war.
July 27
MOTHERS IN DELLING, S KORDOFAN CRYING FOR HELP AS THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING FROM LACK OF FOOD. Basic commodities, let alone humanitarian aid, hardly reach the town, besieged from all sides. Safiya Jibran, told Sudan Tribune hunger is rapidly growing. Most people, especially the displaced in shelters, are resorting to eating tree leaves and animal feed such as ambaz, the remains of beans and sesame after oil extraction. Jibran is unable to buy food on the market anymore. Prices rose 4x over 3 months, and she has no source of financial income because of the war. The regular communications and internet outages exacerbate the people’s suffering. “All roads leading to the town are closed. We need rapid intervention, as the people here are dying of hunger.” Maryam Azrag, who fled with her children to Delling told Sudan Tribune that every morning after dawn prayers, she joins the long line in the shelter centre to obtain a small quantity of lentils “barely enough for 1 person”. Her children now eat 1 meal a day. “We are suffering, our bodies are tired and we need solutions. If this situation continues as it is, people will die of hunger very soon.” Osman worked as a civil servant before the war, is now begging in the market to get a meal for his 7 children: “I have become unemployed and there are no job opportunities. Even hard work is not available. I have not received my salary for 6 months. I had no choice but to beg for food to save my children from starvation.” Delling and other towns in S Kordofan are living under almost complete siege, imposed by the 3 warring parties: SAF, RSF and SPLM-N El Hilu. All vital routes have been closed, which severely hinders the flow of basic commodities. Volunteer Radwan Rajab told Sudan Tribune the RSF “are tightening the noose”… preventing passage of humanitarian aid and commercial convoys to Delling. SPLM-N El Hilu is besieging Delling from west and south. “But during the past 3 months, SPLM-N fighters are confiscating any vehicle transporting goods, claiming that sorghum and other foodstuffs are strategic goods only permitted in the areas under their control.” RSF seize vehicles loaded with merchandise, causing traders to refrain from visiting the area. A merchant reported he and his colleagues these days risk their lives to deliver goods. They now rely on donkeys, camels, cows to carry the goods, often walking 12 hours on rough roads. Delling is the 2nd largest town in S Kordofan with a population of 89,370. It is home to tens of thousands of displaced people, many of whom fled recent battles in neighbouring Habila. They are living rough in makeshift shelters and their livelihood depends on limited efforts by young members of local Emergency Rms. According to the Humanitarian Aid Comm 41,000 newly displaced arrived since the SAF-RSF war broke out in addition to nearly 50,000 displaced people who sought refuge since 2011 when war broke out between the army and SPLM-N. …the town’s residents and displaced are…in urgent need of water, sorghum, flour, oil, onions and lentils. The displaced need tents, tarpaulins, mattresses, household utensils, mosquito nets, water cans and clothes. HAC mentioned the need for psychological support and awareness raising concerning the dangers of weapons and unexploded ordnance. Radio Dabanga reported in Feb that 3.5m people in areas controlled by SPLM-N El Hilu in the Nuba Mtns and Blue Nile were already facing extreme hunger.
RSF KILLED AT LEAST 22 PEOPLE IN ATTACK ON AL-FASHIR IN DARFUR. Al-Fashir Resistance Comms said on Facebook the RSF fired artillery shells on markets, hospitals and apartments in a surge of violence after weeks of stalemate. The activist group said RSF used a drone to target a hospital. 97 people were killed or injured in the assault. The city is the national army’s last remaining position in the Darfur region, and a key front in its war with the RSF. The New Arab
10,000 SO SUDANESE FLEEING CONFLICT IN SUDAN TRAPPED IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS IN SQUALID TRANSIT CENTRE because of failures of their government, relief agencies and aid donors. It is essential funding be quickly mobilised to facilitate movement of stranded returnees to their home states, and that adequate food and essential services are provided for those remaining in Renk. Most new arrivals are So Sudanese who sought refuge in Sudan years earlier to escape their country’s civil war. Now, the most vulnerable, with few resources, are stranded in Renk, on the eastern bank of the White Nile, waiting for help to return to their previous homes. The transit centre, set up in an abandoned building, is bursting at the seams. It was designed to temporarily house 4,000. Currently, it hosts 12,000, and is still expanding, with 1,500 people crossing into Renk each day. Conditions are dire. There are not enough toilets, food rations or basics, including soap, mosquito nets and women’s dignity kits. It is currently the rainy season, and the limited number of tents quickly flood. In June, an outbreak of highly contagious measles killed 4 children. With most people drawing water from the White Nile, a breakout of waterborne diseases is almost inevitable. The returnees, who started arriving when Sudan’s civil war began were supposed to stay less than 72 hrs in the transit centre. Those who can afford to have moved on. But many lost everything and don’t have the means to travel further. The government and UN partner IOM, have only managed to assist a few thousand people to head home due to a lack of funding and So Sudan’s lamentable road network. There isn’t enough funding to hire a sufficient number of planes to airlift returnees. That means a large number of people will likely remain stranded in Renk for months. The So Sudan government refuses to establish proper camps to house people longer term in Renk, where sufficient and better-coordinated humanitarian services could be provided. It wants people to move away from the border to areas where there are better transport links and infrastructure. The de facto no-camp policy – driven in part by fear of creating permanent settlements – is piling more misery on already deprived people who struggled to escape Sudan’s bitter civil war. The term “transit centre” creates the illusion of a short-term stay. But many have been in transit for months. Some made harrowing journeys to get here, arriving with the few possessions they could carry. Their prolonged stay in deplorable conditions has stoked tensions. Last month an aid worker was beaten up. According to UNHCR, there were 800,000 So Sudanese refugees in Sudan, 1/4 in Khartoum, the scene of some of the most bitter fighting. 190,000 So Sudanese managed to cross the border. But with no end in sight to Sudan’s civil war, many more are expected to try and make the difficult journey south. The government in Juba needs to relax its no-camp policy to allow aid workers to respond. Defining Renk as a transit centre, therefore ruling out proper relief support, is short-sighted semantics. People who have only just escaped a vicious war should be properly provided for. Failure to address the gaps in funding and assistance will worsen the plight of those whose lives have already been turned upside down. The New Humanitarian
July 26
SHELTERS IN KASSALA FLOODED. Kassala Youth Emergency Rm issued an urgent appeal urging the provision of food, clothes, blankets and basic necessities for thousands of displaced people in the shelter centres in the city. They have been severely affected by torrential rains Kassala has been witnessing the past few days. “The situation has become catastrophic in many shelters because of a lack of drains and flooded latrines.” They pointed to difficulties in providing the displaced with “the basic needs of food and potable water” and urged the provision of heaters and clothes, especially children’s clothes. Dabanga
ONGOING WAR FUELED BY CONSTANT FLOW OF WEAPONS INTO THE COUNTRY, Amnesty Intl said. The report identified weapons produced by China, Russia, Serbia, Türkiye, UAE and Yemen used by the warring parties: ‘New Weapons Fueling the Sudan Conflict’ finds recently manufactured weapons and ammunition are being imported in large quantities into Sudan “often in flagrant breach of the existing Darfur arms embargo. Our research shows weapons entering the country have been placed into the hands of combatants accused of intl humanitarian and human rights law violations” Deprose Muchena, Sr Dir for regional human rights impact. “We have methodically tracked a range of lethal weapons including handguns, shotguns and rifles b eing used by warring forces.” AI examined 1,900 shipment records from 2 distinct trade data sources and assessed open source and digital evidence, 2,000 photos and videos of newly made or recently imported weapons. … advanced drone jammers, mortars and anti-materiel rifles manufactured in China used by both sides. …“recently manufactured armoured personnel carriers from UAE have been used by the RSF. By supplying arms to Sudan, state parties to the Arms Trade Treaty such as China and Serbia are violating their legal obligations, and undermining the legally-binding framework which regulates global arms trade. It is clear the existing arms embargo that currently applies only to Darfur is completely inadequate and must be updated and extended to cover the whole of Sudan. This is a humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored. As the threat of famine looms large, the world cannot continue to fail civilians in Sudan.” Dabanga
UN REPORTS SHOCKING RISE IN VIOLATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN. The number of children killed, injured or facing grave violations increased to a record high in 2023 UN Secy Gen said in a report. The report submitted to the Sec Council covers 1 Jan 2022 – 31 Dec 2023. … highlighting patterns of grave violations such as recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming of children, rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, attacks on schools, hospitals and protected persons in relation to schools/hospitals, abduction of children and denial of humanitarian access. 1,721 grave violations against occurred against children in 2023, a significant rise from 306 cases in 2022. …480 children killed, 764 maimed and 200 recruited into the conflict. 114 girls were raped or subject to sexual violence. These numbers…are reportedly the highest ever recorded in the country since 2006 when the UN began systematically gathering information. It contains information on progress and challenges in engagement with parties to the conflict and implementation of action plans and road maps. It stressed that while it is the responsibility of the UN to verify all reported grave violations, the ongoing violence and lack of access for monitors mean the numbers likely only represent a fraction of the true number of grave violations against children that have taken place in the past year. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, children and their families have suffered increasing violence, hunger and displacement. 4m children have been forced to flee their homes and increasing food scarcity has left 5m, mostly children, malnourished. The Secy Gen expressed concerns over the shocking increase in grave violations, especially recruitment and use, killing and maiming, sexual violence and attacks on schools and hospitals: “I urge all parties, particularly SAF and RSF to end and prevent grave violations and comply with their obligations under intl humanitarian law and intl human rights law,” calling all parties to immediately commit
to a durable ceasefire…. immediately take all preventive and mitigating actions to avoid and minimize harm and better protect children during military operations, refraining from use of explosive devices that cause death or injury to children and use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Expressing concerns over the increase in recruitment and use of children, the report urged all parties to immediately release all children from their ranks and hand them over to civilian child protection actors in line with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Sudanese authorities must ensure accountability for grave violations against children by bringing perpetrators to justice and providing remedies to the victims. Sudan Tribune
UN INVESTIGATORS MET IN CHAD WITH VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE and documented disturbing patterns of grave abuses. UN Independent Intl Fact-Finding Mission spent 3 weeks meeting with survivors, members of civil society and observers. The people had detailed firsthand accounts of “horrific acts of killings, sexual violence, including gang rape. These brutal acts must stop and the perpetrators must be brought to justice,” mission member Mona Rishmawi said. The fact-finding mission… described “arbitrary detention, torture enforced disappearances …. looting, burning houses and use of child soldiers.” Many of the violations appeared to be particularly targeted against professionals like lawyers, rights defenders, teachers and doctors. “Forced displacement was a common feature.” The independent experts called on the international community to urgently step up efforts to end the conflict: “This crisis requires the support of the international community as a whole,” Mohamed Chande Othman. Al Arabiya
July 24
QATARI MIN OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AFFIRMED THAT DOHA STANDS WITH … SAF. Al-Muraikhi made the remarks during a meeting with Al-Burhan yesterday. Middle East Monitor
RSF DAGALO PLANS TO ATTEND CEASEFIRE TALKS IN SWITZERLAND NEXT MONTH….arranged by the US and Saudi Arabia…. The State Dept said talks will aim to build on discussions that broke down late last year in Saudi Arabia: “We continue to believe there is no military solution to the conflict….convening national ceasefire talks and making clear they are backed by key intl stakeholders is the only way to put to end the conflict.…” However, it is not yet clear if the army will take part in the talks. AfricaNews
UN SPECIAL REP ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT PRAMILA PATTEN CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE by parties to the conflict. Patten made the call following her visit to Chad to assess the situation in Ouaddaï, where 620,000 refugees sought protection after fleeing ongoing hostilities: “Following disturbing reports of a large number of cases of conflict-related sexual violence in the Eastern Chad, I visited to witness first-hand the scale of the crisis resulting from the influx of civilians from Sudan, comprised of 90% women and children.” It recounts her meeting in Adré and Farchana, with survivors of conflict who shared harrowing accounts of rampant and brutal sexual violence. …refugee women highlighted how sexual violence remained a prominent feature of the conflict. Patten quoted hearing accounts of rape and sexual violence involving multiple perpetrators; the use of sexual violence against women and girls that was ethnically motivated; instances of rape in front of family members; trafficking for sexual exploitation of women and girls; abductions of women to extort ransom payments from family members; targeting women activists and first-responders, including those providing assistance and support to survivors. In some instances, survivors and witnesses identified armed men belonging to the RSF and allied militias as perpetrators of the grave crimes. … the lack of security in camps further exposed women and girls to various forms of gender-based violence. UN put in place measures to mitigate these risks, including lighting in camps and fuel-efficient stoves, which required additional funding to be scaled-up. The numbers were overwhelming with humanitarian actors reporting 3,200 persons seeking refuge in eastern Chad every week. Patten called for additional support since the UN Humanitarian Response Plan had only received 21% of required funding: “I call on the international donor community to redouble their contribution to the situation in Chad to support those in desperate need of shelter, security and assistance. Radio Tamazuj
July 23
HOST FAMILIES TAKE THE STRAIN OF WORLD’S LARGEST DISPLACEMENT CRISIS. “We shared everything, and we became like 1 family.” With 2 bedrooms, a hallway and a single bathroom, 47-year-old Karar’s humble home in Gedaref can be crowded at the best of times. Yet limited space hasn’t stopped Karar from opening his door to 40 people across 6 families, all driven from their homes by the still-expanding war that gutted cities and produced the world’s largest displacement and hunger crises. “…any person in Sudan can go through this humiliation, so solidarity is our duty to relieve each other. I continue to host, I cannot abandon them.” A large proportion of internally displaced people are not staying in camps or informal settlements but with host families, little-heralded frontline humanitarian responders sharing everything they have with friends, family and strangers. …sheltering people out of a sense of comradeship, and because of a desire to help ameliorate the vast humanitarian disaster and famine. Some hosts have developed deep and meaningful relationships with their guests, who seek to contribute to the costs of living through sharing family remittances or finding local jobs and helping with housekeeping. Others expressed frustration that they cannot provide more and the financial strain of hosting has been severe, especially as they are suffering economically because of the war. Hosts said new groups of displaced people have been arriving in recent months as RSF expands. They fear their places of refuge will soon be on the front lines, and they will need accommodating themselves. Hosts questioned why they have received insufficient humanitarian assistance from international relief orgs and UN aid agencies. Sibongani Kayola, Mercy Corps, said it is difficult for aid groups to assist displaced people and host families at the same level given how low funding is for Sudan: “Host families are shouldering a really heavy load because income has dropped significantly or evaporated. The additional responsibility of hosting displaced people places additional strain.”
Sudanese communities have shouldered the burden of the humanitarian response, forming mutual aid groups that draw from a rich heritage of social solidarity represented in the local tradition nafeer/call to mobilise. Grassroots groups set up community kitchens, alternative education programmes and women’s cooperatives serving millions in conflict-affected areas that international aid agencies failed to consistently access. Host families opened their doors to 50% of displaced households. The rest are in camps, public buildings, informal settlements and privately rented houses. Most families in Gedaref are hosting displaced people, …more are arriving every day, escaping Khartoum, Al-Jazirah and Sennar which was invaded by the RSF. “These families have begun to receive support from their children abroad and are contributing to the costs of living.” 30-year-old Khaled said residents from his neighbourhood who do not have displaced people in their homes have been collecting money and purchasing goods to distribute to host families. Khaled is hosting 27 people in his 3-bedroom house. He has seen several families come and go over the past year, with some resting up before travelling abroad. “…. we consider this our contribution to alleviating the burden on the displaced. We feel satisfied, to the point that most families came to us at our request.” Samar Saeed in Pt Sudan said his charitably minded father decided to take in displaced people at the outset of the conflict. Saeed said the work of hosting has become gradually less exhausting as guests started chipping in with household work. 1 guest even took a job in Pt Sudan and has been providing support to Saeed and other host families. “Everyone began to participate together until we became one family.” Despite cultivating positive and meaningful relationships with their guests, the hosts all said they are facing significant financial challenges that restrict their ability to assist their guests. Saeed said his family had depleted all the contingency savings they built in case they ever faced their own disaster. The resources of host families have been exhausted by a general economic slowdown: “Most of the people in Pt Sudan are port workers, and due to the war, business slowed dramatically.” Khaled from Gedaref said some of his family haven’t been going to work because they need to stay at home to prepare food, and act as guides to the local area for their guests. …his family’s financial struggles mean they are buying poorer quality food. He said guests sometimes have to buy things for themselves, which leaves the hosts feeling “as if we are negligent in performing our duty towards them. Recently, we ran out of stock. We were living in an abnormal state of pressure because all day we were thinking about what food we could give them, feeling sad about the psychological state these people were going through.” Karar said some hosts in Gedaref received humanitarian support from the Sudanese Red Crescent and local authorities, but not nearly enough. People in Sudan “are being wiped out” “no one is looking. I believe the UN and international community are completely negligent towards our rights, and in a racist manner. … because we are Africans that we are ignored in this way.” International donors provided just 31.3% of the $2.7b requested by aid groups. Key sectors including health and nutrition are under 10% funded. 1 study predicted 2.5m starvation deaths by Sept, while others are warning of the world’s worst famine in 40 years. Guests are facing financial struggles that can create deep discomfort, said Munira Ali, a 27-year-old displaced lawyer who left Omdurman. Ali said her family temporarily moved into their cousin’s house in Shendi. The cousin was hosting 2 other families, despite having only 2 bedrooms: “One of the most painful situations I went through was that I never before saw my father in this state of helplessness. He was unable to provide any assistance to that family. During this period, sweet relationships were formed with people we did not know. We shared everything, and we became like one family.” Ali said … she had to adapt to different cultural and social attitudes and expectations among the hosts and guests. Despite these challenges, a return to Omdurman is not on the cards, …her neighbour died of hunger, a volunteer-run soup kitchen closed because of fighting, and the streets around her house have filled with corpses. Karar said his fear is that the RSF invades their area as it pushes eastwards, turning host families into displaced people who will have to depend on yet more people for assistance. Khaled called on the international community to put more pressure on the warring parties to stop the conflict so people can return to their homes: “My message to the army and the RSF is that they hear the voice of reason, put citizens as a priority in their programmes, and stop violations against them.” Reuters/The New Humanitarian.
SUSPECTED CASES OF CHOLERA IN ZAMZAM CAMP FOR DISPLACED near El Fasher prompted medical sources to sound the alarm, …The suspected cases of cholera … “portend a great danger in light of the current health situation,” … almost all hospitals and centres are out of service, except for Saudi Hosp and 4 health centres. N Darfur is now entirely reliant on medicines via airdrops, after most of the stock of medicines was burned when the kidney dialysis centre warehouse was destroyed, allegedly by RSF. A volunteer in child protection, Mubarak Abdullah, told Radio Dabanga: “fevers, watery diarrhoea and malnutrition have appeared among children, in addition to pregnant women suffering from anaemia due to lack of food, which will most likely lead to the birth of children who suffer and are vulnerable to disease. …the camp is facing a problem with water because it is not fit for drinking, in addition to the widespread spread of flies: “All of these are factors that can cause cholera.” A resident confirmed that children suffer from diarrhoea and fevers to a great extent. …the camp needs environmental sanitation and spraying for mosquitoes and flies. MSF conducted tests in Zamzam Camp in April and found 33% of pregnant and lactating women were suffering from malnutrition, which poses a huge risk to the health of mothers and children. … it is likely that children born to malnourished mothers will also suffer from malnutrition. WHY THE US IS UNABLE TO RESTRAIN THE UAE IN SUDAN. Sudan’s war has spread to 10 of 18 states, with the RSF overrunning army garrisons in 8 capitals. RSF is laying siege to El Fasher, N Darfur, marking an attempt to capture the army’s final stronghold in the country’s western region. This escalation has garnered significant intl condemnation. The recent seizure of El-Fula, capital of W Kordofan, and most of Sennar State by the RSF revived fears that they could capture the whole country. Calls for the resignation of al Burhan were widespread after the RSF took Wad Madani. According to El-Tigani Ibrahim, former Min of State for Finance & Economy, the issues plaguing it are structural: “The army was structured to protect the regime rather than the state.” After successfully staging a coup, al-Bashir initiated… tamkeen/empowerment which facilitated the rise of Islamist-aligned officers within the SAF. This resulted in removal of officers perceived as opposing the new regime. In addition to becoming a more politicized force, the military became increasingly immersed in business with the rise of companies linked to the military. These functioned without state oversight and came to control large sections of the economy over the last 3 decades. Decades of underinvestment in the army’s capabilities allowed the RSF to grow. Bashir formalised the RSF in 2013 and by the time of the current war, its forces had grown to nearly parallel the size of Sudan’s military. RSF was considered more capable of insurgencies in Darfur and controlling the streets of Khartoum after mass protests erupted in 2018. RSF soldiers formed the bulk of forces deployed as part of the Saudi-led coalition at war with Houthi rebels in Yemen. SAF’s vulnerabilities became apparent early in the war when it leaned into mass conscription in hopes of containing the RSF. The popular resistance was well received by the public with tens of thousands of recruits signing up to join, but to many it was a sign that the army was in a weak position. The efficacy of mobilising volunteer recruits was quickly frustrated by logistical challenges and citizens regularly aired complaints that the army is dragging its feet organising popular resistance and delivering arms to trainees. In addition to better-equipped, better-trained and more experienced fighters, RSF is growing stronger as it captures more territory. Doing so has allowed it to acquire vast stockpiles of weapons from SAF’s fallen garrisons and control important border regions from which fighters and arms make their way into the hands of the RSF. RSF’s offensive in Darfur to seize control of nearly the entire region was facilitated by several factors, including “new military supply lines running through Chad, Libya and So Sudan,” UN Panel of Experts on Sudan. A more recent report on the CAR found opposition groups “sent members of their own groups to fight in Sudan under RSF”. RSF seized Yarmuk Munitions Complex, the largest weapon manufacturing facility in Sudan, which contained vast stockpiles of bombs, artillery, rifles and armoured vehicles. The move deprived SAF of much-needed firepower and pushed it to seek arms from external partners Russia and Iran. SAF has given little indication that it can correct course before it’s too late. “SAF suffers from the inability to be more critical of itself,” Harry Verhoeven, Columbia U author of ‘Water, Civilisation & Power in Sudan: The Political Economy of Military-Islamist State Building’ “It’s the RSF …creating facts on the ground and the army since day 1 has been responding as opposed to taking the initiative.” The army’s generals remain determined to continue fighting despite their weak position. Yasir al-Atta declared “there will be no negotiation, no truce, even if the war lasts 100 years”. Without hopes of a ceasefire or change in strategy the current trajectory could well lead to SAF’s implosion, and total disintegration of the state. As RSF expanded, its forces engaged indiscriminate killing and forced displacement of civilians, looting markets, seeds, fertilisers and agricultural equipment. RSF expanded into more fertile regions, further exacerbating the scale of the crisis. “It’s a very difficult situation because the SAF has a lot of problems, but in a way, you have to hope that they win because the alternative scenario is even worse.” VIOLENCE IN SUDAN CASTS LONG SHADOW ACROSS BORDER INTO SO SUDAN. 17,000 refugees fled the escalating violence in W Kordofan. This adds a significant burden to a nation still struggling to heal from the scars of its own civil war. So Sudan alone provided shelter to 163,000 Sudanese refugees and 586,000 So Sudanese returnees. UNHCR update reported that children constitute 51% of the displaced population, making Sudan 1 of the world’s largest child displacement crises. PEOPLE ARE DYING OF HUNGER IN OLD OMDURMAN NEIGHBORHOODS EL MULAZEMIN AND ABROF. Prices of basic consumer goods witnessed a large increase, 33-50%. Sheikh El Amin Omar, leader of El Gadiriya El Mukashfi Sufi order, explained … “people are suffering from famine amidst a deteriorating security situation. All the soup kitchens/takaya in old Omdurman stopped working. The area regained by SAF from the RSF is not very secure. He who does not die by the fire of weapons, dies of famine…. We are working hard to provide food and medicine, but the pressure is great. …They lack money to buy food, which is hard to get anyhow.” Sheikh El Amin remained in his Sufi compound in old Omdurman, providing food to the hungry. In Feb he was detained by MI, along with 3 volunteers: “The prices are soaring, caused by the collapse of the economy, the rapid decline of the Pound, and huge inflation… The situation is approaching the stage of a disaster.” The Pound’s value plummeted by 350%, leading to soaring prices for commodities, especially fuel. The sheikh called on Sudanese abroad “to donate just $1. When 10m people donate $1 it would be a huge amount that could make a huge difference. … the reserves of the people have entirely depleted.” Some areas of Ombadda are now completely uninhabitable due to a sanitary crisis and total service collapse. A resident of Omdurman: “In the past 2 days, the increase became crazy,…This is beyond the capacity of the people who suffer from lack of income, with a poor security situation due to the war. Many people accuse merchants of exploiting the war by doubling prices without reason, which exacerbates their suffering. “Some merchants double the prices of goods already in their shops…. Civilians recruited and armed by the army are robbing people day and night in the absence of the police. The police previously clashed with SAF soldiers plundering homes but were met with fierce violence, so they do not intervene anymore. … gunmen and gangs of bandits will attack homes by force as hunger worsens. Every resident is currently seeking to arm themselves in self-defence. It no longer matters to the people whether the SAF or the RSF control the area in which they live, as both parties are committing the same violations and do not provide protection, and there is nobody to which they can submit a complaint.” Dabanga
CIVILIANS SUFFERING HORRENDOUS VIOLENCE, MSF says. The physical and mental wounds of violence have been exacerbated by the collapse of the health system and lack of international humanitarian response. Its teams treated thousands of war wounded in areas affected by bombing, shelling of residential homes and essential infrastructure. Across Sudan, people’s access to lifesaving care has been drastically affected due to shortages, widespread obstruction and looting of medical supplies, insecurity and attacks against patients and medical staff, damage to healthcare infrastructure. It accused the SAF and RSF of blatant disregard for human life and international law. There is no accurate data on how many have been killed, but death toll estimates run into tens of thousands. MSF said in camps and gathering sites where refugees and displaced people sought safety, patients have recounted horrific stories of inhuman treatment and violence perpetrated by armed groups on civilians. Accounts describe systematic cases of forced eviction, looting and arson. Sexual and gender-based violence are pervasive but underreported due to stigma, silence for fear of retaliation, and lack of protection. It called on the warring parties to cease attacks on residential areas and allow safe passage and protect infrastructure from further destruction and looting. It urged them stop targeted forms of violence and abuse, including ethnic and sexual violence. The New Arab
CIVILIANS FACE VIOLENCE AND KILLINGS AND HEALTH WORKERS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE SUFFERING PERSISTENT ATTACKS amid severe violence perpetrated by both warring sides, MSF. The NGO warned in the report issued Mon that protection of civilians has collapsed. SAF and RSF and their supporters are inflicting horrendous violence on people across the country: ‘A war on people – The human cost of conflict and violence in Sudan’ The war has wrought a catastrophic toll with hospitals attacked, markets bombed, houses razed to the ground. MSF treated an average of 26 people per day Aug 2023-April 2024 at just one of the hospitals in Omdurman, most for injuries caused by explosions, gunshots and stabbings. … hospitals have been routinely looted and attacked. WHO said only 20-30% of health facilities in hard-to-reach areas remain functional, and even then at minimal levels. SAF and RSF refused to give up their quest to control the country, despite the devastation, regional and international mediating efforts, and condemnation of the violence. The MSF findings indicate shocking instances of sexual and gender-based violence, especially Darfur, where the RSF has long been accused of ethnic cleansing. 135 survivors of sexual violence treated by MSF July-Dec 2023 in refugee camps in Chad found 90% were abused by an armed perpetrator, 50% were abused in their own homes, 40% were raped by multiple attackers. “These findings are consistent with testimonies from survivors, demonstrating how sexual violence is being perpetrated against women in their homes and along displacement routes, a characteristic feature of the conflict.” An MSF patient said 2 young girls from their neighbourhood in Gadarif disappeared. “Later my brother was abducted and when he came back home, he said the girls were in the same house where he was detained and had been there 2 months. He was hearing bad things done to them, the kind of bad things they do to girls.” The report contains testimonies detailing targeted ethnic violence in Darfur, where RSF militias have been committing violence against Masalit and people of non-Arab ethnicities. MSF notes that humanitarian and medical organisations have been frequently blocked from providing support to civilians. “The violence… is compounded by blocking, interfering and choking services when people need them most, stamps and signatures can be just as deadly as bullets and bombs in Sudan,” MSF Gen Dir Hawkins. Al Jazeera
July 22
SUDAN’S MILITARY GOVERNMENT RESTORED DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH IRAN, ending an 8-year rupture. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps dispatched several cargo flights to Sudan, allegedly bringing attack drones and weapons. These developments coincide with a phase of growing cooperation among Arab regional powers to pressure Sudan’s military government to end the ongoing civil war though negotiations—an option the military regime has rejected. The Arab powers have given little assistance to Sudan’s military government. If it continues to lose territory, it will rule over little more than a rump state along the Red Sea coast and northern states neighboring Egypt. So what does Iran stand to gain from normalization of relations with Sudan? What could this mean for the geopolitics of the region and the security of the Red Sea? And could Iranian military assistance change the course of the civil war in Sudan? Sudan War Monitor
July 20
HUMANITARIAN TALKS IN GENEVA END WITHOUT AGREEMENT. Ramtane Lamamra, UN special envoy said the discussions “are an encouraging initial step in a longer and complex process. I welcome the commitments announced today by one of the parties to enhance humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians.” Ramtane … urged both sides “to step up their engagement for peace for the sake of the Sudanese people and the future of the country”. The envoy invited both parties “to nominate senior delegations … to ensure distribution of humanitarian assistance to all the population in need, options to ensure the protection of civilians across Sudan. The humanitarian situation remains catastrophic and is deteriorating every day. Urgent action is needed to ensure that humanitarian assistance safely reaches all those in need and to guarantee the protection of all civilians.” Dabanga
IN WAR-RAVAGED OMDURMAN, WOMEN ARE BEING COMPELLED TO HAVE SEX WITH SOLDIERS IN EXCHANGE FOR FOOD, according to the Guardian, citing accounts from more than 2 dozen women.
The women described harrowing instance s where sexual intercourse with members of the army is the only means to obtain food or sellable goods to support their families. The assaults predominantly occur in the factories area, where the most food is available. One victim, responsible for her elderly parents and 18-year-old daughter, stated: “Both my parents are too old and sick and I never let my daughter go out to look for food… I went to the soldiers and that was the only way to get food – they were everywhere in the factories area.” She recounted being forced to have sex with soldiers at a meat-processing factory and again at a warehouse. Before the conflict, she worked as a maid but lacked the resources to flee the city when war broke out. Women have been forced to trade sex for access to abandoned houses to loot items to sell. One woman, ashamed of the sexual assaults she endured and being driven to theft, said: “I am not a thief… I only did it because I wanted to feed my children.” Despite the WFP making deliveries to the Khartoum area, women reported seeing no international aid in their neighbourhoods. Residents and soldiers corroborated these reports, with 1 soldier witnessing his colleagues taking advantage of women. He described 1 incident where a woman had sex with soldiers, who in turn allowed her sisters to loot houses. “It’s awful. The amount of the sins in this city can never be forgiven.” Middle East Monitor
July 17
VISIT OF ETHIOPIA’S PM TO PT SUDAN REVEALS GROWING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WAR following RSF advances on its border. Abiy was the first foreign leader to visit Burhan since Sudan’s war broke out and his arrival came after months of tensions between Burhan’s military-dominated government and Ethiopia. Abiy’s visit came after 2 major developments: First, RSF seized control of large areas near the Ethiopian border in Sennar State. Second, Egypt – a rival of Ethiopia – hosted an important conference that brought together opponents and supporters of the warring parties from civil society. Security on the border has become important for Ethiopia after the Sudanese military began intensively bombing areas seized by the RSF…. much of fertile Sennar State, … close to the borders. Addis Ababa is trying to avoid spillover of the war…. Chief among insecure border lands is Fashaga, a territory held by Sudan that is disputed. Abiy warned that Ethiopia would be able to seize Fashaga in a few hours if it wanted to,… Also on the agenda were accusations from Ethiopia that SAF backed Tigray rebels, with similar allegations leveled at Addis Ababa over the RSF. Abiy and Burhan agreed to make sure any support for each other’s foes would be halted, and they would work together to stop the RSF and Tigray rebels from operating across the border. Tigray fighters have reportedly been spotted among SAF ranks. Foreign fighters from So Sudan, Libya and other countries have been captured by Sudanese during battles with the RSF.
The meeting poses questions for Eritrea. Asmara supported both the Ethiopian government and the Sudanese military in their civil conflicts. It hosted armed groups from Sudan and Darfur supportive of the Sudanese military. Eritrea treated the Ethiopia-Sudan rapprochement with suspicion, thinking it could shift the balance of power, and might prompt Eritrea to host armed Sudanese tribal groups to increase leverage. Ethiopian political analyst Anwar Ibrahim believes Abiy’s visit is focused on security, that the trip succeeded in de-escalating tensions. Relations have been sour since 2023, when Abiy called for a no-fly zone over Sudan to be imposed, which would be disastrous for the Sudanese military which has relied on air power. “Sudan, particularly, is facing extreme international and regional pressures to go back to the peace talks. The timing of this visit is crucial for the countries who are facing mutual security and political difficulties.” A Sudanese political analyst said Ethiopia decided to intervene to counter Egypt’s influence. The analyst noted arguments about the share of Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that threatens Egypt’s water supply, as well as Addis Ababa’s controversial plan to build a port and competition within the AU have stoked the rivalry. “So Sudan, in the middle of the 2 countries, is very important for national security of the sides.” Sudanese analyst Taha believes the RSF’s push into areas bordering Ethiopia changed the dynamic of the war and pushed Addis Ababa into changing tactics and priorities. Egypt has been engaging with the Somaliland issue with Egyptian Pres “putting more pressure on Addis Ababa, which has great interests in Somaliland. Ethiopia is also wondering if Eritrea will intervene in the Sudanese war. All these factors pushed Ethiopia to think twice about Sudan and it has become really worried about the expansion of the war and a change in the balance of power.” MEE
July 11
TRADE UNION FRONT CALLS FOR END TO WAR AND MILITARY RULE. Trade unions played key role in Sudan’s political change since the 1940s, despite crackdowns by subsequent military dictatorships. Sudanese Trade Union Front announced the launch of its charter and national declaration calling for an end to the civil war, according to Sudanese Communist Party newspaper Al-Maydan. The Trade U Front formed in order to address the fragmentation of civil society, lack of resources and communication by uniting the unionized bodies, and clearly outlining the priorities to build infrastructure and reach all cities and areas of the country, considering the challenges Sudan endured for decades to build true democracy, particularly the recent civil war. The Front brings together doctors, farmers, rail workers and people nationwide, to unite to raise their demands. The Front believes uniting civil society starts from uniting the unions representing it. The unions that are part of the Front include the Preliminary Comm of Sudan Doctors’ U, Sudanese Dramatists U, union body for lecturers and professors Al-Zaim Al-Azhari Univ, union body Nyala Univ professors and lecturers, union body for professors and lecturers Univ of Khartoum, preliminary committee for professors and lecturers Omdurman Natl Univ, Sudanese Teachers Comm, Gen Union of Sudanese Engineers, preliminary committee for atomic energy workers, and management committee for employees of the Tax Office. Clear objectives include working to end the current war, establishing just, comprehensive and sustainable peace, facilitating humanitarian aid to all those affected by the war, supporting efforts to stop crimes and violations against civilians, and initiating processes for transitional justice. Completing the course of the December revolution is one of the main objectives of the Front, which stressed the importance removing the former regime’s influence from all state sectors and creating a single professional national army after cleansing it of politically affiliated individuals, particularly those linked to Islamic parties. The Front emphasizes the need to build a Democratic Civil State, which would … establish a people’s democracy. The Front claims this would be to “build institutions and a legal framework agreed upon by Sudanese citizens, insist on the formation of legislative, supervisory and oversight councils during the transitional period as a priority, and restructure and reform judicial institutions and the civil service.” The Front called for the withdrawal of all military forces from political and economic activities, excluding military leaders from future political or military role, and prosecuting them for all crimes committed by regular forces since the fall of the former regime, and all crimes committed by military formations during the April 2023 war, in addition to disbanding the former regime’s security apparatus.
The trade union movement has had a pioneering role in Sudan since 1947, when the Railway Workers Affairs Assoc was established while the country was under British colonial rule. The unions developed as Sudan has been going through different phases of political change after being liberated from British hegemony. …trade unions played a significant role in leading popular action including the 1964 Revolution that ended Abboud’s dictatorship, and the Sudanese popular uprising in 1985, when the people chose the Union Assoc as their representative. Al-Bashir’s regime dissolved trade unions and professional associations after taking power in a military coup in 1989. After Al-Bashir’s regime was toppled in 2019, a transitional government was installed, which shared power with the military, dismantling the former-regime-affiliated unions as part of legal reforms. In 2021, a military coup dissolved the power-sharing government, crushing hopes for a peaceful transition of power. Al-Burhan, the military commander who led the coup, issued an order dissolving trade unions and professional federations. For decades, democracy, stability, justice and peace have struggled to make their way in Sudan. The lengthy British colonial rule was followed by eras of totalitarian military rule marked by coups and armed conflicts as the only means for political change. Trade Union Front is eager to fight for true democracy and an end to military involvement in politics with the slogan “people’s power” as a way to overcome the ongoing civil war between the sections of the military power establishment. People’s Dispatch