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Sudan

500 Days of War in Sudan, 500 Days of Global Apathy

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August 27 marks 500 days of war in Sudan. 500 days of suffering. 500 days of unfathomable loss.
On April 15, 2023, war erupted in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In the 500 days that followed, civilians suffered countless atrocities, and the country spiraled into a humanitarian nightmare.

Repeated attacks on civilians have driven Sudan’s communities into despair. Sexual violence has been wielded as a weapon, targeting women and girls. This includes the rape of young children and an increasing number of babies born after rape being abandoned. Attacks on medical facilities have rendered the country’s healthcare systems unable to respond to those wounded, sick, and in need of treatment. Schools have come under fire—children killed and injured—with most schools forced to close and over 17 million children without access to education.

“For 500 days, in the face of massive killings, rape, starvation, and destruction, the global community— the UN Security Council and especially the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development—has chosen apathy instead of action,” said USCRI President and CEO Eskinder Negash.
Nearly 8 million people are internally displaced in Sudan, and over 2 million more fled across borders to seek refuge. Sudan is now the largest child displacement crisis in the world, with over 4.6 million children displaced. Sudan has a history of welcoming and protecting those fleeing conflict and persecution and hosts refugees who sought safety in the country before the war broke out. As armed clashes between the RSF and SAF continue, these populations—such as Ethiopian refugees in camps in Gedaref state—are threatened once again as violence encroaches on refugee camps. For the international media, the war and displacement in Sudan are not news worth reporting – a practice of selective outrage.

Over 24 million people need humanitarian assistance in Sudan. This month, aid began to enter via the reopened Adre crossing—a critical pathway to deliver aid to those who need it most, particularly in Darfur where famine was confirmed. But this is not enough. Warring parties continue to restrict access to aid, and devastating floods have crippled timely response. Outbreaks of disease are spreading, and thousands are dying of malnutrition. “We are failing the people of Sudan,” said Negash. “The solemn mark of five hundred days is a stain on our global consciousness and must be a turning point. The time is now to ensure a sufficient and meaningful response.”

USCRI reiterates the call on all warring parties in Sudan to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, including allowing the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations through all crossline and cross-border routes. USCRI urges the international community to immediately prioritize funding for the humanitarian response in Sudan to address the scale of needs.