Earlier this year, activists and organisations all over the world took action to #KeepEyesOnSudan.
But the ongoing conflict continues to impact the work of local peacebuilders like Adeela, who work to shed light on the scale of this disaster. Through facts, figures, and the stories of affected families, Adeela share the, often untold, stories of those going missing or forcibly disappeared across Sudan.
Whilst local communities continue to live with the impact of the conflict ‘[…] Thousands of families are still haunted by an unanswered question: “Where is our child?”’
Adeela remind us that “the war has not just killed, injured and displaced hundreds of thousands, but also left thousands of people missing or forcibly disappeared. The numbers are horrifying, and the stories heartbreaking.”
The Sudanese Group for Defending Rights and Freedoms estimates that the number of people missing or forcibly disappeared during the Sudanese war is around 50,000. But local Sudanese human rights organisations say the numbers are likely to be much higher, with families remaining quiet due to despair or fear of retaliation. Families live in unimaginable anxiety, oscillating between hope and despair, unable to mourn or move forward.
Mohameed Adam (pseudonym), an activist from Darfur, spoke to Adeela about his experience:
These conditions have affected huge numbers of Sudanese people. Yet, they have managed to survive and carry on with their lives under these conditions. How?
Adeela highlights the Sudanese diaspora as playing a crucial role, becoming “the backbone of nearly every voluntary humanitarian initiative during this time.”
Whether by providing funding, support on relocation to safer countries or Sudanese doctors providing free medical consultations, “countless individuals found new chances at life, new jobs or places to live, through friends, acquaintances, or strangers from the diaspora.”
Young people across Sudan also made extraordinary efforts; forming emergency groups, filling gaps in humanitarian and health services, and working to restore basic water and electricity utilities.
“All these young people were driven by a strong sense of humanitarianism and volunteerism. Their work during these two years has been nothing short of extraordinary – a true testament to the power of organisation, collective action, and the potential of youth.”
They continued to grow, too.
“Over time, these emergency rooms built networks with local and international organisations. The number of skilled professionals joining them – craftspeople, engineers, doctors – increased significantly, and their contributions were immense.”
Sudan remains one of the world's most neglected crises. Share this post on Instagram to raise awareness of the conflict and to help #KeepEyesOnSudan.
The team at Adeela believes that without the ability to learn from these painful experiences, this will not be the last war in Sudan.
“There is documentation and knowledge about many of these violations and the key perpetrators involved. But did these issues take center stage in the many peace negotiations that were held? Were they included as fundamental items in the numerous peace agreements that were signed? In most cases, no.”
Justice must be sought for those impacted by the war. Adeela say that human rights organisations and groups documenting the violations will be crucial to this.
Adeela also points to the responsibilities of political bodies and activities in buillding and promoting discourse. One that “refuses to cooperate with or legitimise those accused of committing crimes against Sudanese people – unless they have been held accountable.”
“Behind each statistic are real people with names and stories. Enforced disappearances, like other tragedies in Sudan, cannot merely be reduced to numbers; each digit represents lives turned upside down.”
Despite the immense resilience that Sudanese people are showing in the face of this crisis, with local and diaspora communities using traditional mechanisms to organise and resist, most Sudanese families have lost their sources of income. The financial pressures have been varied:
“Making matters worse, the government was unable to pay salaries for months in many sectors, or paid them with large deductions. […] inflation skyrocketed, devaluing those salaries even further. Governmental social support systems like the Zakat Chamber either halted or became far less effective due to the conflict. And then came the major blow: agricultural projects were disrupted, impacting a large number of people working in that sector and driving up the prices of food.”
As part of a global effort led by Sudanese people, the team at Adeela work achieve a democratic, safe, peaceful Sudan. At Peace Direct, we are constantly inspired and empowered by their efforts. Together, we can support Adeela in their pursuit of justice, safety and permanent peace in Sudan.
Share this post to #KeepEyesOnSudan.
Act by signing this petition calling for the protection of civilians in Sudan.
Follow @AdeelaArt to hear more from our partners in Sudan.
