Introduction to the Crisis in Sudan
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee a camp in Darfur in the wake of the most recent attacks. A high-level international conference is under way in London to find a pathway to peace in Sudan. The UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, is one of the hosts of the conference, which aims to unite international partners around a common position to get more food and medicine into Sudan and to begin charting a way to end the hostilities.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan’s civil war began exactly two years ago, causing what aid agencies call the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The UK is promising an extra £120m worth of food and medical assistance. Charities say 30 million people in Sudan are in desperate need, and people are starving as a result of the war. Many have given up on Sudan, but it’s morally wrong to look away when so many civilians are being killed, and infants are being subjected to sexual violence.
Attacks on Displaced People
In recent days, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an intense ground and aerial assault on camps for displaced people close to the city of el-Fasher. A vast camp for displaced people called Zamzam, which has provided temporary shelter for an estimated 500,000 people, is now being systematically destroyed by fire from intentional arson by RSF forces. The UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, told the BBC’s Newshour programme that there’s a brazenness that characterises these acts, with accounts of men walking in and raping women, and killing young men.
The Plight of Civilians
When the violence in el-Fasher got too much, many people, like Nusra, fled to Zamzam. However, five members of her family, including one of her sons, have died since then, most of them killed by fighters shelling the refugee camp. The RSF burned down the only field hospital in Zamzam, killed more than three volunteers and nine staff members of Relief International, and shut down the only market inside the camp, blocking water tankers trying to reach the residents.
The Response from the International Community
The aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says that over 20,000 people have fled to the town of Tawila in North Darfur in under two days. Many of them are dead upon arrival, others are lacking water, food, and children are dying of thirst. The international community is responding to the crisis, with the UK, EU, and African Union co-chairing a ministerial conference to find a pathway to peace in Sudan.
The Conference in London
Tuesday’s ministerial conference aims to unite international partners around a common position to get more food and medicine into Sudan and to begin charting a way to end the hostilities. Neither of Sudan’s main warring parties – the Sudanese Armed Forces nor RSF – has been invited to the conference. Instead, they will be represented by regional allies, some of whom diplomats say are fuelling the conflict.
The Way Forward
The African Union (AU) envoy Bankole Adeoye said that there can be no military solution in Sudan, only an immediate, unconditional cessation of hostilities. This must be followed by an all-inclusive dialogue to end the war. The AU will not allow a Balkanization or partition of Sudan. The international community must come together to support the people of Sudan and find a pathway to peace.
Conclusion
The crisis in Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with millions of people in desperate need of food, water, and medical assistance. The international community must come together to support the people of Sudan and find a pathway to peace. The conference in London is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to stop the violence and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The world cannot look away from the suffering of the Sudanese people, and it’s morally wrong to do so. It’s time for the international community to take action and help bring peace to Sudan.
