A look into the ongoing war in Sudan and its devastating impact on civilians and the country.
The conflict in Sudan has lasted for almost 16 months, resulting in a high number of casualties and widespread displacement, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. Hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023, with both factions seeking control over the nation after the political transitions of recent years.
The recent surge of violence in the state of Sennar, where RSF forces attacked towns, has forced over 136,000 individuals to flee, according to the United Nations. Displaced civilians from Sinja and al-Dinder sought refuge in nearby states, adding to an existing population of 286,000 displaced persons in the region. The escalating conflict also continues in North Darfur, particularly in el-Fasher, where recent attacks have resulted in civilian casualties.
The impact of the conflict has been staggering, with approximately 10 million people forcibly displaced within Sudan and beyond its borders. While 7.7 million people are internally displaced, over two million have sought shelter in neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, the Central African Republic, and Ethiopia. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is expanding its response to assist refugees in Libya and Uganda, emphasizing the dire conditions forcing people to make dangerous decisions.
International aid agencies, however, are facing challenges in providing adequate support. The UNHCR has received only a fraction of the necessary funding, leading to cuts in essential services such as food rations. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has declared Sudan's food crisis as the most severe in history, with over 755,000 people at risk of starvation and 8.5 million facing food shortages and malnutrition if the conflict intensifies further.
Efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution have been hindered by the conflicting factions' reluctance to engage in meaningful dialogue. Despite numerous ceasefire attempts, including ones facilitated by international actors like Saudi Arabia and the US, the conflict persists. Diplomatic initiatives, like the UN Security Council's call for a Ramadan ceasefire, have been met with limited success due to ongoing hostilities on the ground.
The situation in Sudan remains precarious, with millions of civilians caught in the crossfire and facing dire humanitarian conditions. The international community's intervention is crucial to ending the conflict and alleviating the suffering of those affected.
Source: ALJAZEERA
ALJAZEERA MEDIA NETWORK