Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

The situation in Sudan is dire, with 25 million people, more than half of the country’s population, struggling with acute hunger. The civil war, now in its third year, has led to a staggering humanitarian catastrophe. Famine is spreading rapidly, with some resorting to eating leaves and grass to survive. The United Nations has reported that 400,000 people were displaced and hundreds killed in Darfur in just one week.

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The Impact of Aid Cuts

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze all U.S. foreign assistance has had devastating consequences. American-funded soup kitchens in Sudan, which were the only lifeline for tens of thousands of people, were forced to close. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had been providing $830 million in emergency aid, helping 4.4 million Sudanese. However, after the aid was halted, over 300 soup kitchens run by Emergency Response Rooms, a network of democracy activists turned volunteer aid workers, were forced to close.

The Human Cost

The effects of the aid cuts are evident in the number of malnourished children. Twelve acutely malnourished infants living in one corner of Khartoum died in a short period. Abdo, an 18-month-old boy, was one of them. He had been rushed to a clinic by his mother as he was dying, his ribs protruding from his withered body. The next day, a doctor laid him out on a blanket with a teddy bear motif, his eyes closed. Like the other 11 children, Abdo starved to death in the weeks after the U.S. aid was frozen.

The Response of Aid Groups

Aid groups are struggling to cope with the crisis. The Norwegian Refugee Council has described the situation as a "moral failure." The United Nations World Food Program has announced that the Trump administration is terminating emergency food assistance for 14 fragile countries around the world, including Sudan. The U.S. State Department has said that lifesaving aid is exempt from the cuts, but on the ground, aid groups say the flow of American money stopped for almost two months and has resumed only in fits and starts.

The Role of Volunteer Groups

Volunteer groups like Emergency Response Rooms have been filling the void left by the aid cuts. However, they are struggling to survive. The group’s financial coordinator, Gihad Salahaldeen, said that nearly half of the 746 kitchens in Khartoum remain closed. The group is in dire need of funding, with a monthly budget of $12 million to feed starving people, but they are receiving just over $500,000.

The Consequences of the War

The war in Sudan has had a devastating impact on the country. The U.N. has accused both warring sides of using starvation as a weapon of war. Sudan’s government has even denied that a famine is underway. In many parts of the country, security threats and deliberate obstructions mean that the United Nations and many international aid groups have no presence. This has left volunteer groups like Emergency Response Rooms to risk their lives to deliver aid.

Personal Stories

The stories of the people affected by the crisis are heartbreaking. Fatima Bahlawi, 20 months old, lay wailing in her mother’s arms, waving limbs that were thin as sticks. Her mother, Khadija Musa, said that the U.S.A.I.D. suspension in late January had come at the worst possible time. The army was advancing on their neighborhood, and fighters with the Rapid Support Forces were looting and killing civilians. When the American money stopped flowing, the local soup kitchen closed, and Ms. Musa went out searching for food.

Conclusion

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is a stark reminder of the consequences of conflict and aid cuts. The situation is dire, with millions of people struggling to survive. The international community must come together to provide emergency aid to those in need. The U.S. government must reconsider its decision to cut aid to Sudan and work with other countries to provide a coordinated response to the crisis. The people of Sudan deserve our help, and it is our moral obligation to provide it.