The situation in Sudan after the outbreak of war: Introduction to the Sudan dossier
published in the ANND's special edition of the newsletter.
Introduction:
More than a year and eight months have passed since the outbreak of
the war in Sudan. Although it is not the first in Sudan's modern history since
independence in 1956, this war has been the most widespread geographically and
in its impact on Sudanese lives. The war affected 14 out of 18 Sudanese states,
leaving tens of thousands dead and thousands wounded, in addition to serious
violations that included rape, arrests, forced displacement from homes, and
offenses against various human rights.
The war that began in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, also led to
the rampant destruction of Sudan's infrastructure, including government
headquarters, factories, shops, some bridges and viaducts, and thousands of
homes.
According to the Integrated Phase Classification, Sudan is going
through appalling food security conditions. More than 25 million Sudanese face
acute hunger (phase three of food insecurity), while more than 8 million people
are expected to reach phase four (emergency). The number of people who have
reached phase five has reached about 755 thousand people as the specter of
famine looms over 14 of the country's regions.[1]
According to the World Bank's information, updated in 2021, workers
in the agricultural sector make up 41% of total workers in Sudan. Most of these
workers are small farmers who have faced great difficulties since the beginning
of the war. Workers in the agricultural sector, both rain-fed and irrigated,
depend on receiving financing from banks to start preparing for the
agricultural season. The closure of the Agricultural Bank threatens them with
failure, with the negative impact on the farming seasons after the war and the
lack of security in most areas cultivated annually.
Many local initiatives, civil society organizations (CSOs), and
international organizations are addressing the specter of famine and food
security collapse. However, the efforts remain smaller than the existing flaws.
The number of internally displaced persons due to the war in Sudan
has exceeded 10.7 million people, in addition to 2.3 million refugees outside
the country. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) suffer from several problems,
including the lack of suitable places to stay, as most camps have been set up
in schools that are not qualified for this purpose, neither quantitatively nor
qualitatively. Many displaced persons have also settled with their extended
families in the areas where they have been displaced amid challenging economic
conditions and a significant increase in the cost of living, with the
substantial decline in the value of the Sudanese pound.
Before the outbreak of war in 2023, seven million children were out
of school, and the number rose to 17 million during the war. After more than a
year and a half of war, only seven states have attempted to restore school
education. Many schools have been transformed into shelters for people
displaced from war zones. The continuity of education in some states without
others raises questions related to educational justice.
War and violence are not the only obstacles to education in Sudan.
The failure to pay teachers' salaries is another significant issue hindering
the restoration of educational life. With more than 2 million Sudanese seeking
refuge abroad, their children might not be able to restore their educational
future directly. Financial capacity and the ability to keep pace with different
educational curricula are additional challenges.
Between 70-80% of health institutions in Sudan stopped operating due
to the war. The WHO documented more than 100 attacks on health personnel and
humanitarian workers.[2] Many Sudanese states also
suffer from a lack of access to medical supplies, exacerbating health
conditions and the spread of diseases and epidemics such as cholera,
hemorrhagic fever, and malaria.
Many Sudanese who receive daily treatments or receive regular
services such as kidney dialysis have died during this war. The absence of
adequate health care services and the irregularity of the medical supply have
had a fatal impact on the lives of thousands of Sudanese.
This dossier, compiled by several Sudanese researchers, addresses
the situation in Sudan after the war. It focuses on the political situation,
the situation of women, social protection, opportunities and challenges, and
what the press and journalists are exposed to in the war. Although these angles
cannot cover everything related to the Sudanese situation, they provide
examples of the horrific deterioration in the situation after the war broke
out.
[1] FAO Regional Office for Near East
and North Africa, "Sudan is facing an unprecedented hunger catastrophe,
say UN agency chiefs," Joint FAO/UNICEF/WFP News Release, 26/06/2024, https://www.fao.org/neareast/news/details/sudan-is-facing-an-unprecedented-hunger-catastrophe--say-un-agency-chiefs/en.
[2] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Coverage of the
press conference of the WHO director in Portsudan, https://aawsat.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A/%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7/5058845-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%8B.
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