3 Actions You Can Take Today for Sudan

On April 15, 2023, violent conflict broke out in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It continues today, with both sides leaving the negotiating table and escalating the fighting.

In just nine short weeks:

• 1.4 million people have been internally displaced.
• More than 476,000 people have fled to neighboring countries.
• Numbers of killed and injured are incredibly hard to verify at this point in the conflict, and will likely not be known for some time. Some reports say at least 780 people have been killed, and about 5,800 have been injured. But recent word out of Darfur is that 1,100 have been killed in the West Darfur town of El Geneina alone.
• More than 13.6 million children in Sudan are in need of humanitarian aid.
• There have been direct attacks on healthcare facilities and attempts to deliver aid.
• Sudanese fleeing to other countries are facing challenges, including in Egypt where the government requires them to first apply for visas before entering, violating international and regional legal frameworks.

From a distance, and when you’re not in a position of power, it can feel as if there is no way to help. But there are things you can do!

Here are three ways every one of us can help our friends in Sudan:

SHARE

Do your friends and family know what is happening in Sudan? Make sure they do! Share articles and social posts with your community to keep them informed. 

• Here are a few to start with:
  • Sudanese Volunteers on Supporting Hospitals and Opposing the War, The New Humanitarian
  • Desperate Shortages in Khartoum as Sudan Battles Intensify, Al Jazeera English
  • More than 1,100 Dead in Besieged El Geneina, West Darfur, Radio Dabanga

• Things/People to Follow:
  • Youth Citizen Observers Network (Twitter)
  • #KeepEyesOnSudan
  • Gouja Ahmed, Freelance Videographer and Human Rights Monitor (Twitter)
  • Alberdi Organization (Twitter)
  • Mat Nashed, Journalist (Twitter) (Instagram)
  • Yousra Elbagir, Journalist (Twitter) (Instagram)
  • Radio Dabanga (Website) (Twitter)

CONTACT 

• Contact your member of Congress. Let them know how important the people of Sudan are to you.  
  • The Funding Ask:
    • Ask your member of Congress to fund humanitarian aid for Sudan and the region as hundreds of thousands of refugees flee the conflict. 
    • Tell them aid should be flexible to allow for localization as much as possible. 
    • Also that aid should be local and refugee-led organizations are best placed to deliver effective humanitarian aid.
    • Congress should find ways to support this lifesaving work.
  • The Leadership Ask:
    • Ask your member of Congress to call on President Biden to appoint a Special Presidential Envoy for Sudan.

SIGN 

• • Join Amnesty International in calling for a Special Presidential Envoy for Sudan. 

As more opportunities for action arise, we will update this post. Check back for further details about how you can help the people of Sudan.