Sudan is rife with the hazards of civil war. Hazards that could spill outside its borders. Amongst these hazards are the infighting by the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and risk of famine in North Darfur.
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has informed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that the humanitarian situation in Sudan remained an absolute catastrophe. This follows last week’s determination that famine conditions existed in a camp for internally displaced persons in North Darfur. An assessment by the IPC pointed to catastrophic food insecurity conditions or starvation in the Zamzam Camp near El Fasher, the capital of the region. While Sudan’s Government denies the existence of famine, a senior official of the World Food Programme (WFP) told the Council that the confirmation of famine conditions should serve as a wake-up call for the international community and for members of the Council itself. More than 750 000 people are currently classified as being in IPC phase five, meaning they are experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity as the country’s grinding war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues to wreak havoc on the civilian population.
The matter of famine against war and conflict paints a bleak picture concerning Sudan. It implies the displacement of thousands of men, women and children amidst a fragmented state. Of course, the Security Council of the United Nations will make the usual (by now) ritualistic calls for there to be a ceasefire. However, the concrete action that is needed is an end to the sale of weapons by arms dealers in the Russian Federation and other nations that are benefactors to the Sudanese Armed Forces (regular army) and the RSF. If Moscow’s grandees stop sending arms and ammunition to both sides, then the Sudanese military under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF commander Mohammad Hamdan Dangalo also known by his nickname Hemedti will feel pressured to end the violence.
This would then be a huge opportunity to supply food to the ordinary people not involved in the war in Sudan. Restoring peace and stability to the troubled Nile-basin country should be a top priority.
The humanitarian situation in Sudan remains an absolute catastrophe.
A staggering 26 million people are in acute hunger. That’s the equivalent of New York City times three – full of starving families and malnourished children. More than 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, hunger and deprivation. This includes 726,000 people displaced within and from Sennar State, south-east of the country, since 25 June following the Rapid Support Forces’ advance into the state. That’s three quarters of a million people displaced – in just six weeks. Sudan’s health care system has collapsed. Two-thirds of the population cannot go to a hospital or see a doctor. Heavy rains have flooded residential neighbourhoods and displacement sites in recent weeks – including in Kassala and North Darfur – increasing the risk of cholera and waterborne diseases. An entire generation of children is missing out on a second straight year of their education.
The situation painted in the extract above is bleak and grim. A cease fire has to be called forth to end the suffering. The people of Sudan have been the ones who have been calling for a way forward to determine their situation and future. The generals and militia leaderships need to face pressure once more and listen to the demands of the people. Once a ceasefire is called forth then negotiation can begin for a joint civilian and military government that can lead to elections. The interests of the children should be the top priority in calling for a cease fire. Their future should be of utmost importance. Education about the harmful effects of water diseases such as cholera need to be made available to the public. A ceasefire needs to happen now. Then a new constitution can be debated and written. The people of Sudan need a stable and representative government that embodies their aspirations.
Khartoum – the capital of Sudan, once the beating heart of the country – is in ruins. Mr. President, as you will hear from my colleague from the World Food Programme, our worst fears were confirmed last week: The Famine Review Committee concluded that famine conditions are present in Zamzam camp, close to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
This is the same camp that Médecins Sans Frontières warned about six months ago, where one child was dying every two hours from malnutrition. The Famine Review Committee also found that famine conditions are also likely present in other displacement camps in and around the city. This announcement should stop all of us cold. Because when famine happens, it means we are too late. It means we did not do enough. It means that we, the international community, have failed. This is an entirely man-made crisis – and a shameful stain on our collective conscience.
Destruction has raged across Sudan, its major cities and rural areas since the middle of last year. When a ceasefire is agreed upon, aid in the rebuilding of Sudanese cities will have to come in. But the necessary means of transparency and oversight need to be in place. The risk of starvation and disease due to the result of famine and a lack of access to medical health care is worrying. The need for stability in the long run can only happen when an armistice is agreed upon. Till then an end to supplying arms to both sides needs to end. The United Arab Emirates needs to stop sending weapons and aid financial or other wise to the Rapid Support Forces. The governments in Cairo, Moscow, and Beijing need to also do the same as regards the Al-Burhan Junta and the SDF.
No one can gain anything from the continuity of this war. It is the Sudanese people alone who must have the choice to determine their own destiny. However, this can only happen once the vested parties in the conflict agree to cease sending money to both sides. Then the Sudanese people can finally have a say in defending their own interests, or else the conflict will engulf Sudan’s neighbours.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
