Have You Heard About What's Happening in Sudan?
Each year, the IRC puts out an Emergency Watchlist1 to increase understanding of humanitarian crises around the world. At the top of the list in the #1 spot for 2025 is Sudan. I’m surprised that I haven’t heard more about Sudan on the news, so I wanted to write about it and bring awareness. If you find this post helpful, please share it with others!
Bullet Points for Busy People
Brutal civil war
14.6 million people displaced
30.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance
Deadly famine
119 confirmed attacks on health care workers and facilities
Sexual violence and ethnic cleansing against civilians
Recruitment of child soldiers
More on the Situation
The current civil war in Sudan began in April 2023. The conflict is between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but civilians are paying the price. Sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, and sexual slavery, is being used as a weapon of war. The accounts I read of survivors telling their stories are horrifying. Children are left orphaned, child soldiers are being recruited to fight, many schools are closed, and the health system is collapsing. Healthcare workers and aid workers have been assaulted, kidnapped, and killed. Millions of people lack access to food, safe water, and medical services. Deadly diseases such as cholera are spreading rapidly due to a lack of resources and overcrowded living conditions. Sudan is on the brink of the worst famine seen in decades.
How We Can Respond
I know it can be difficult to know how to respond when we read about such heavy things going on in the world. However, I hope that we (especially those of us who are not living in constant fear of violence, facing starvation, or lacking access to health services) will not turn a blind eye towards people in the world facing these situations. There are things that we, as ordinary people, can do to show our fellow humans that we see and we care. That they are not forgotten. With that in mind, I’d love to offer some ideas for practical application.
Write letters to refugees. This is something even children and students can do. It can be very healing and uplifting for people who have been through hardship and pain to know they are not forgotten and alone.
https://anyrefugee.org/
Read books to learn about the experiences and perspectives of Sudanese refugees.
For Kids & Middle Grade
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan — Mary Williams
A Long Walk to Water — Linda Sue Park
Don't Look Back: A Memoir of War, Survival, and My Journey from Sudan to America — Achut Deng & Keely Hutton
They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky — Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng & Judy A. Bernstein
For Teens & Adults
The Lost Boys of Sudan: An American Story of the Refugee Experience — Mark Bixler
Seed of South Sudan: Memoir of a Lost Boy Refugee — Majok Marier
What Is the What — Dave Eggers (based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng)
Slave: My True Story — Mende Nazer & Damien Lewis
Six Months in Sudan — Dr. James Maskalyk
Welcome refugees and immigrants in your community. Volunteer with Refugee Assistance organizations. Consider taking language lessons for any different languages spoken in your community so that you can build friendships. Find ESL or homework clubs in your area to tutor refugee and/or immigrant children. Invite a family to spend Thanksgiving or another holiday with you.
Was there anything new that you learned, or anything that stood out to you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
IRC Emergency Watchlist: https://www.rescue.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/CS2405-Watchlist-25-Report%20Final%20DIGI.pdf
Woah. Thanks you for sharing this. I can’t believe how little news it’s receives — especially sitting in the number 1 slot. I appreciate the resources you included! 💙