Sudan News Sweep - Fri 22 to Mon 25 Nov '24
SNS returns: the first WFP food aid reached Zamzam IDP camp since famine was declared in the summer; SAF recaptured Sinjah, capital of Sennar State; mass displacement from Gezira and West Kordofan.
The Sudan News Sweep resumes today after a break due to multiple surgeries. The News Sweep turned one during the hiatus; a grim milestone, but I hope this resource has helped you in some way to keep eyes on the people of Sudan. I hope that in the next 12 months this space can shift from a war to a peace tracker – Shayna
HUMAN RIGHTS:
The Sudan “war is being fought on the bodies of women,” says Mona Rishmawi, expert member of the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. Over 61,000 people have died in Khartoum since the start of the war and “starvation and disease were the leading cause of death across most of the country”, according to a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study. This underscores the significant underreporting of fatalities in Sudan.
HUMANITARIAN IMPACTS:
Over 700 trucks from the World Food Program are delivering life-saving emergency food assistance to communities across Sudan. This aid is “enough to feed 1.5 million people for one month”. On Fri 22 Nov, the first convoy reached Zamzam IDP camp since famine was declared months ago, however much more assistance is needed as Sudan “is now home to half the world’s population facing catastrophic hunger”. Aid is only ‘delaying deaths’ in Sudan, says the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). With barely one month left in 2024, the OCHA funding appeal for Sudan is still 41% underfunded.
More than 37,500 cholera cases and 1,000 deaths in Sudan, according to the World Health Organisation. MSF resumed operations at Bashair Teaching Hospital in southern Khartoum on Tue 19 Nov following an attack. There have been 469 incidents of violence against or obstruction of healthcare centres/workers from the April 2023 to September 2024, reports Insecurity Insights.
Over 3,000 schools in Sudan will be supported through promoting child wellbeing, learning environments, and remote learning. The Sudan Primary Education Emergency Support project will be implemented by UNICEF and is supported by the World Bank.
CONFLICT DYNAMICS AND ONGOING VIOLENCE:
SAF recaptured Sinjah, capital of Sennar State on Sat 23 Nov – see Sudan War Monitor for the full report. SAF has called on South Sudanese authorities to block RSF troops from fleeing into South Sudan. Col. Abbadi Al-Tahir Al-Zain, commander of the victorious SAF force vowed to pursue the RSF into South Sudan. RSF attacks on towns in Blue Nile have caused the mass displacement of civilians.
RSF attacks displaced an estimated 6,000 households from Et Tekeina, Gezira State on Wed 20 Nov. The RSF killed at least 7 people and wounded dozens in an attack on Abu Shouk IDP camp in El Fasher, North Darfur on Sat 23 Nov. The IOM reports that an estimated 40 households were displaced from El Fasher from 22/23 Nov. SAF has changed tactics in El Fasher, feigning retreat from their bases to lure and attack RSF troops, reports Darfur 24. Clashes between the RSF and SAF displaced an estimated 2,000 households from Keilak town, West Kordofan on Sat 23 Nov. The RSF killed 4 people and injured 6 in an attack on Sayyal Market in El Geteina, White Nile State on Sun 24 Nov. The SAF-controlled Foreign Ministry accused the RSF of raping and sexually abusing at least 500 women and girls in this war.
The Sudanese Liberation Movement-Minawi faction (SLM-Minawi) intercepted a convoy of weapons that they allege were being smuggled to the RSF via the Chad-Libya border region.
POLITICS, PEACE, ECONOMICS:
Sudan’s official gold revenues for Jan-Oct 2024 totalled $1.5 billion, according to Mohamed Taher Omer, Director of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company. However, almost half of total gold production was illegally smuggled. Sudan is at risk of becoming a failed state, according to the head of the NRC.
INTERNATIONAL DYNAMICS:
Heavy gunfire in Juba, South Sudan after attempts to arrest the former head of the National Security Service on Fri 22 Nov. The African Union reiterated that Sudan’s membership will remain suspended until the resumption of the civilian transition, reports the Sudan Tribune. U.S. Senators Jacobs and Van Hollen introduced measures intended to halt the sale of US weapons to the United Arab Emirates. U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello met the Saudi Arabian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs on Sun 24 Nov.
AT A GLANCE
Human Rights:
TUE 12 NOV: Over 61,000 people have died in Khartoum since the start of the war.
THU 21 NOV: The Sudan “war is being fought on the bodies of women,” says UN expert Mona Rishmawi.
Humanitarian Impacts:
THU 21 NOV: A UNICEF project will support over 3,000 schools in Sudan.
FRI 22 NOV: Over one thousand cholera deaths and over 37,500 cases in Sudan, according to the WHO.
FRI 22 NOV: Over 700 WFP trucks are delivering emergency food assistance to communities across Sudan.
FRI 22 NOV: 469 incidents of violence against or obstruction of healthcare centres/workers.
- SOURCE: Insecurity Insights via ReliefWeb
Ongoing Violence and Conflict Dynamics:
TUE 19 NOV: MSF resumed operations at Bashair Teaching Hospital in southern Khartoum following an attack.
WED 20 NOV: SLM-Minawi intercepted a convoy of weapons that were allegedly being smuggled to the RSF.
WED 20 NOV: RSF attacks displaced an estimated 6,000 households from Et Tekeina, Gezira State.
THU 21 NOV: SAF has changed tactics in El Fasher, feigning retreat before attacking RSF troops.
FRI 22 NOV: RSF attacks on towns in Blue Nile have caused the mass displacement of civilians.
FRI 22/SAT 23 NOV: An estimated 40 households were displaced from El Fasher due to clashes.
SAT 23 NOV: SAF recaptured Sinjah, capital of Sennar State from the RSF.
- SOURCE: Sudan Tribune and Sudan War Monitor
SAT 23 NOV: SAF has called on South Sudan to block RSF troops from fleeing into South Sudan.
SAT 23 NOV: Clashes between the RSF and SAF displaced an estimated 2,000 households from Keilak town, West Kordofan.
SAT 23 NOV: The RSF killed at least 7 people and wounded dozens in an attack on Abu Shouk camp in El Fasher.
SUN 24 NOV: The RSF attacked Sayyal Market in El Geteina, White Nile State.
SUN 24 NOV: The SAF Foreign Ministry accused the RSF of raping and abusing at least 500 women and girls.
Politics, Peace, Economics:
THU 21 NOV: Sudan’s official gold revenues for Jan-Oct 2024 were $1.5 billion.
SUN 24 NOV: Sudan is at risk of becoming a failed state, according to the head of the NRC.
International Dynamics:
FRI 22 NOV: Heavy gunfire in Juba, South Sudan after attempts to arrest the former head of intelligence.
FRI 22 NOV: The AU reiterated that Sudan will remain suspended until the resumption of the civilian transition.
FRI 22 NOV: US Senators Jacobs and Van Hollen introduced bills to halt the sale of US weapons to the UAE.
- SOURCE: US Senator Van Hollen
SUN 24 NOV: U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello met the Saudi Arabian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.