An appeal for emergency aid for the victims of the fighting in Sudan has been received from Sudanese democratic forces opposed to the current military conflict.

The Sudanese people, through massive and sustained demonstrations organised by community-level committees overthrew the military dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir in July 2019. The movement was able to force the remaining military forces to agree to transitional frameworks towards civilian government.

But the democratic movement was not able to decisively overcome reactionary elements in the Transitional Military Council.

The statement below explains developments that have enveloped the country since April this year.

Red Ant asks all progressive Australians to circulate this statement and the appeal for emergency funds for Sudanese refugees at https://gofund.me/e06f3d3a.

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On 15 April, fighting erupted in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) – aligned with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan – and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti. Fighting then rapidly spread to the Southern and Northern States as well as West Darfur and North Kordofan. It has resulted in at least 1,800 fatalities and 5,287 injures.

This conflict represents a breakdown in the country’s transition to a civilian government. The SAF and RSF had shown no willingness to adhere to the framework agreements, failing to agree on integrating the RSF into the military, in what was ultimately a final blow to the transition process.

The fighting has displaced more than 1.9 million people internally across Sudan, and 580,000 are projected to have become refugees in neighbouring countries including the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt, and South Sudan. 

As many continue to search for safety, the UNHCR estimates that 12,000 families are staying in Wadi Halfa in Northern State – mostly at mosques and schools – waiting to cross over to Egypt. Health services at Wadi Halfa are stretched and medicines, including for diabetes and other chronic illnesses, are in dire need. Family separation due to visa requirements, smuggling and gender-based violence cases have been highlighted by humanitarian partners.

Sudan is now facing violent urban warfare and civil unrest as well as a surge in criminality and communication breakdowns. The country is also grappling with infrastructure destruction, severe water shortages caused by blackouts, fuel scarcity and lack of supplies. Fewer than 15 per cent of health facilities in Khartoum remain fully functional and 60 per cent are not operating, severely limiting access to urgent medical services for millions of people. These challenges are compounded by soaring prices for food, fuel, and other essential goods, as well as recurring disease outbreaks, pre-existing malnutrition, and acute food insecurity.

The fighting has disproportionately impacted the lives of women and girls and put pregnant women in danger, making it perilous to leave their homes to seek essential maternal and newborn care. An estimated 219,000 pregnant women in Khartoum alone are at risk, many are expected to give birth in the coming weeks.

Conflict-related sexual violence is a major concern. Since the fighting began, civil society organisations have reported increasing cases of gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence and kidnappings of women and girls. Furthermore, millions of children are at risk due to the worsening health and nutrition crisis. An estimated 24.7 million people, including around 13.6 million children, need immediate humanitarian assistance.

RSF and SAF forces have detained and attacked civil society actors, resistance committee members, medical professionals and journalists. In addition to these attacks, looting and destruction of civilian property is widespread, especially in Khartoum and throughout Darfur, as armed groups exploit the outbreak of conflict to steal from banks, shops, humanitarian offices, hospitals, and homes.

Sudan was already facing a humanitarian crisis. With extreme weather shocks, social and political unrest and rising food prices driving poverty, hunger, and displacement. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased to 24.7 million in May 2023. With restricted humanitarian access after the targeting of aid workers and facilities, many humanitarian organisations have suspended their operations in most parts of Sudan.

The people of Sudan appeal to humanitarian actors around the world to support the securing of safe passage for women, children and their families trapped in conflict areas; provision of essential humanitarian aid including shelter, basic supplies and services, food, water, hygiene, and critical health care; and provision of immediate lifesaving response to enable women to remain safe and cover their basic needs. This includes PEP kits, dignity kits, psychosocial support and trauma assistance, and emergency cash assistance.