Sudan Conflict: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Two Years On

It has been two years since the outbreak of a devastating war in Sudan—a conflict that has taken tens of thousands of lives and driven 13 million people from their homes. Labeled by the United Nations as the world’s most dire humanitarian crisis, there seems to be no end in sight. Sudan has unwittingly etched this grim anniversary into its history on Tuesday.

Chaotic Beginnings

On April 15, 2023, Sudan became a fiery arena of war as tensions boiled over between the national army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, once his trusted deputy. Khartoum quickly transformed into a battlefield, its streets lined with the fallen.

Few sights capture the despair better than the streets flooded with fleeing citizens. According to one resident, “I’ve lost half my body weight,” lamented Abdel Rafi Hussein, a 52-year-old who lived under RSF control until the army’s recent retaking of the capital.

Despite being liberated from RSF control, Khartoum’s citizens now scrape by with inadequate water, erratic electricity, and hospitals that are little more than relics of their former selves. How many more anniversaries like this must Sudan endure?

In a significant strategic shift, the army’s successful recapture of the capital spurred celebrations among civilians, praising their escape from RSF’s iron-grip. Yet, the RSF remains relentless in its campaign, pushing deeper into the famine-stricken region of Darfur and setting its sights on el-Fasher, the last bastion of government control in Sudan’s vast west.

‘Catastrophic Consequences’

Words of concern echoed in London, where global diplomats gathered to devise a pathway to alleviate the suffering of Sudan’s people, although devoid of representation from either belligerent.

“Instability must not increase,” remarked David Lammy, British Foreign Secretary. “A stable Sudan is vital not just for its people but for the security of the region and beyond.” What are the implications if the world continues to avert its gaze?

U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi noted with frustration the global apathy, as Sudan suffers “indifference from the outside world.” He warned of the dire consequences of neglecting a nation mired in war, abuse, indignity, and famine. “Continuing to look away will have catastrophic consequences.”

On the eve of the second anniversary, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres himself entreated the global community to act, recognizing that civilians continue to bear the war’s worst burdens.

With a collapsed health system, the precise death toll remains elusive, but estimates suggest as many as 150,000 may have perished. Houses have become rubble amidst shells, and aid has been repeatedly blocked, paralyzing humanitarian efforts.

Flow of Weapons

The echoes of war are growing louder. The U.N. reported a tragic toll: 2,776 children killed or maimed since the onset of violence—figures that starkly contrast with the preceding year’s numbers. The anguish doesn’t stop there.

Zamzam, a displacement camp in Darfur sheltering close to a million souls, faces sustained famine. A recent RSF assault left at least 400 dead, per United Nations reports.

Control of el-Fasher would essentially seal RSF dominance over Darfur, situating it strategically along critical border zones and supply lines—a de facto partitioning of the nation. While the army governs the north and east, the RSF, bolstered by allies, holds sway over much of Darfur and beyond.

Guterres urged an immediate halt to external support and weapons influx, imploring those with influence over the belligerent sides to use it to ameliorate the Sudanese plight and not exacerbate the crisis. Though Sudan has leveled accusations at the United Arab Emirates for arming the RSF, and these charges have been denied, yet suspicions linger.

The trials of Sudan are not passing phenomena; they are ongoing, relentless, and deeply entrenched in the flesh of its society. As the world watches from afar, we must ask ourselves: how do we wish to be remembered? As passive observers—or as architects of peace?