On July 26, Dr. Nada Fadul (University of Nebraska College of Medicine) led “The humanitarian crisis in Sudan” workshop during the Pax Christi USA national conference in Detroit. The following report on that workshop, which was attended by about 30 people, was written by Rosemarie Pace, Ed.D., coordinator of Pax Christi New York State.
Sudanese-born Dr. Nada Fadul began the session using a PowerPoint slideshow to provide a brief introduction into the geography and history of Sudan. She noted the multi-cultural nature of the population, and then she spoke of the several coups that have devastated the country repeatedly over many years. Sudan has had democratic and civilian-led governments, all short and transitional, in between the many coups. She reviewed the history of conflicts, civil war, and the break-away of South Sudan.
Dr. Fadul explained that the region was a British colony until 1956 when Sudan gained its independence. It was, however, a divide and conquer strategy that the British used. Two civil wars between north and south based on ethnic, religious and cultural divides took place between 1956 and 2005. Genocide began in Darfur in 2003 rooted in conflict between the Arab Janjaweed and non-Arab population. The International Criminal Court declared this a genocide by the Janjaweed and indicted President Omar al-Bashir.
In 2019, al-Bashir was overthrown and a shared government was created between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force primarily composed of former Janjaweed militias. This shared government lasted only briefly. By 2023, the two were engaged in all-out war, but Dr. Fadul made it clear that this conflict is far more complex than a civil war. There are many players.
As of July 26, the SAF controlled the capital Khartoum and the RSF controlled the west.
The humanitarian impact has been horrific. The UN calls the situation in Sudan the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. There have been 150,000 deaths; 8.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs); 3.5 to 4 million refugees out of a nation of 47,000,000 people. Famine has struck 25,000,000; 522,000 of whom are children. The RSF and Arab militias have been accused of ethnic cleansing. They attack doctors and health care facilities. Sexual violence is extreme.
- Where there’s no debate about genocide — and no response, either, Nicholas Kristof, New York Times
The impact on health care is similarly horrific: 30.4 million need humanitarian assistance, but 70 percent of health care facilities have been disrupted.
Dr. Fadul identified “Actors” and “Influencers.” Among the actors, she named nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), local emergency response rooms (ERRs) and service committees, and the de facto government. Influencers include the Humanitarian Aid Commission, whose influence is actually negative, local authorities, the warring parties and war opponents like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that supplies arms to the RSF, and beneficiaries.
There is a humanitarian response, or at least an attempt at one, but it is severely challenged from delays to distractions like the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to inadequate finances to lack of coordination, and more.
Despite all this, Dr. Fadul tried to share some hope, but it is a mixed bag of steps forward and steps back. She shared the story of Dr. Hadeel Abdelseid, a pediatrician, who stood with her patients as long as she was able. Unfortunately, she was displaced twice as an IDP and eventually was evacuated to Egypt. Still, while she was able, she was caring for all she could. There is also the Sustainable Development Response Organization, an NGO that has been there for the people, as has the Sudan ECHO Center of Excellence with its mobile clinics. The ERRs are staffed by doctors, medics, and emergency responders who provide food, first aid, and more. They are very local and have been able to reach 11.5 million people. Unfortunately, yet again, ERRs are under fire, experiencing funding cuts, targeting, and insecurity. The result is funding delays, shrinking aid operations, and limited access.
Ultimately there is an urgent need for an international response and call to action.
Webinar: The humanitarian crisis in Sudan
Monday, September 22, 10 AM ET/7 AM PT
On Monday, September 22, Pax Christi International will offer the third in its series of Sudan Speaks webinars.
Co-sponsored by Sudanese Center for Social Policy; Darfur Youth Center for Peace and Development; and the Sustainable Development Response Organization (SuDRO).
Moderator: Dr. Mawa Mohamed, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, University of Frankfurt
Speakers:
- Abrar Alalim, President, Sustainable Development Response Organization (SuDRO), Sudan
- Saleh Mustafah, Sudanese Center for Policy Studies
- Dr. Mogahad Halaly
For more information, contact Ron Pagnucco.
Use this link to learn more and to register.
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