Sudan Has Not Been Forgotten - It Has Been Ignored
In 3 months Sudan will reach 2 years of war. That is 2 years of famine, genocide, under-nutrition, gender-based violence, and so much more. While the Sudanese Army and the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to fight, civilians have paid the ultimate price. The past 2 years have been horrid, especially for women and girls. Sexual violence is being committed against them at a staggering rate, with many choosing to pre-emptively end their lives to avoid the atrocities. What is going on is genocide, and Sudan’s cries for help receive limited attention.
It is imperative to call out who is funding this. The United Arab Emirates bears much of the responsibility as they are the ones who fund and supply the RSF with weapons. The RSF has gone on to commit some of the worst crimes against humanity in modern history, including ethnic cleansing, weaponizing sexual violence, burning infrastructure, and preventing civilians from receiving care. Due to the destruction of infrastructure and prevention of aid, a famine is unfolding. This is without a doubt one of the biggest humanitarian crises of the 21st century, with almost 25 million people facing acute hunger. It is estimated that at this rate, the number of deaths related to the war will exceed one million.
Hundreds of thousands of people have died within the year. In addition, sexual violence has become a custom within the RSF. On social media, many women and girls shared that because of the fear of the high rate of sexual violence, they are making the decision to end their lives. Being a woman or girl in Sudan is having to make impossible choices that no one will understand unless they are in that environment. Famine and violence aren’t the only ways the Sudanese people are being harmed. Education has virtually halted, with almost 7 million children unable to continue attending school. About a year ago journalist Yousra Elbagir stated that schools and universities have shut down for several months due to the ongoing war. In Port Sudan and other cities, they have transformed into shelters to aid displaced families. Elbagir pointed out a critical point: if the schools resume, those families have nowhere to go; if they stay closed, children will not receive their education.
War and genocide cannot be something the world gets used to, but what is especially unique about the situation in Sudan is its longevity and lack of interference. The UAE has been called out internationally for their role in what is going on, yet they are allowed to continue without consequence. It cannot be ignored the impact race and ethnicity has in this lack of intervention. The world historically does not spring into action when Black Africans are brutalized. Propaganda has long made many people believe globally that war, genocide, and famine is common on the African continent. Consequently, it is not shocking for people that another African country is having this happen; that people are starving to death or having their homes burned down is not surprising to many. Since it is expected, it is easier for people to make the decision to look away or distance themselves from the issue due to the lack of coverage.
The Sudanese people have long had to advocate and fight for themselves. In more recent times, some progress has been made. In early January of this year the Sudanese Army announced that they had recaptured the city of Wad Madani and formally seized it from the RSF. This is one of the closest cities to the capital of Khartoum. This development is most celebrated not only because it marks what is hopefully the beginning of liberation for the entire country, but also because Wad Madani holds the connection of highways that link several states. Not only can this liberation allow for other cities to follow, it also allows for humanitarian work to be carried out. The World Food Programme for Sudan confirmed that aid including food and nutrition supplies are on their way for the first time in over a year.
It is vital that attention is paid to the war and genocide in Sudan. The UN has labeled this as the world’s worst displacement crisis. As this statement was being written, news of the RSF attacking villages in eastern Gezira came out. Hundreds of houses were destroyed and water canals damaged, further displacing and killing people. The international community, both state actors and activists, must demand more action for Sudan. It is time for the UAE to face consequences for what they have done. This ranges from economic sanctions to refusing to visit. At this time, going to the UAE for holiday and to experience its luxury is to say Sudanese suffering doesn’t matter. Sudanese lives matter. Their suffering deserves action.
#KeepEyesonSudan
#FreeSudan
Additional Sources:
https://x.com/WFP_Sudan/status/1882055330760376418
https://www.savethechildren.net/sudan
https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/sudan-emergency
To learn more about what is happening in Sudan we recommend following and sharing these accounts:
https://www.instagram.com/womenofsudan?igsh=MWZyN21jZWR5dHowYg==
https://www.instagram.com/sudanuntold?igsh=amw1bDJvdXYxbzZj
https://www.instagram.com/forsudaneseliberation?igsh=NDh4M2w5MDJid2x0
