When the UK convened an international meeting in Sudan today, interests did not rise to the civilians there. It is essential that the meetings provide concrete actions designed to halt the deployment of Darfur, and gather high levels of support to protect civilians.
Reading this, the rapid support forces (RSF) fighting the Sudanese army is on a rampage in North Darfur, Sudan, especially in Elfasher city and in Zamzam camp, which hosts an estimated half a million displaced people. Since Friday, the military reportedly killed dozens of civilians in the soup kitchen, including nine aid workers and female volunteers and more than 24 children.
Many, if not most, of the displaced civilians in the camp have been refuge again. Sudan is currently holding the world’s largest evacuation crisis. It is the only country where hunger is unfolding.
The conflict occurred two years ago in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Once a bustling metropolis, the city was destroyed.
Actions by the fighting party are synonymous with atrocities. The RSF killed civilians on a wide range of scales, including during the ethnic cleansing campaign against non-Arab communities in Darfur. They raped gangs to women and girls and exposed them to sexual slavery.
Both RSF and SAF perform detainees, often posting videos on social media. The parties intentionally suspended food and medical assistance. Massive aid cuts, particularly by the US, have further exacerbated the suffering, forcing local Sudan to resilience, running and stopping many soup kitchens.
Despite all this, new weapons continue to flow into fighter jets’ hands, including those produced in the United Arab Emirates and China.
What is happening now is a predicted disaster. Last June, the UK gathered the UN Security Council to condemn the then attack on El Fasher. However, the council did not respond. The results are now calm and clear.
Last year, Foreign Minister David Lamy himself described the extent of his suffering as “it’s difficult to understand frankly.”
The UK needs to use the London Conference to rally global action to prevent more atrocities, starting with creating a coalition of states willing to work urgently to protect civilians. It also needs to proceed with sanctions against the commander. It’s “unforgivable” to forget Sudan, Ramie said. They would not have acted the same way they were not allowed.
British director Yasmin Ahmed
