Humanitarian organizations report that Sudan is experiencing the most severe humanitarian disaster in recent history, yet the plight of this northeastern African nation remains largely unrecognized by the global community.
Journalist Aengus Cox and cameraman Enda O’Byrne traveled to Sudan to observe the dire circumstances faced by its population.
“We are in urgent need and are reaching out for any form of assistance to acquire additional resources.”
This is the plea from Duke Nyauncho, Trócaire’s Finance and Operations Manager in Sudan.
The area hosts one of the largest camps, housing over 60,000 residents, with more individuals arriving daily.
Trócaire manages a small health facility situated a few miles from Tobo camp, established long before the overwhelming surge of the population.
However, they are not equipped to accommodate such a vast number of individuals.
“It’s challenging as our resources are stretched; we have medical and nutritional supplies meant for only 10,000 people,” explains Mr. Nyauncho.
Trócaire’s Duke Nyauncho emphasizes the necessity for increased resources in Sudan.
With the rainy season concluded, many more displaced individuals are anticipated to reach the region, altering the scope of Trócaire’s facility significantly.
“We have established outreach sites at the IDP camp where medications and medical staff are dispatched to alleviate the burden on residents. Although it’s two miles away, many of them are malnourished and have traveled long distances to arrive here.”
The Trócaire manager states that “to alleviate the suffering, we are able to extend our reach to provide nutritional support. We are also organizing health programs there.”
However, he cautions that “due to insufficient supplies, we are witnessing a growing number of children dropping out of the nutrition program, which undermines the efforts that have already been invested.”
South Kordofan has attracted approximately one million individuals fleeing the civil war in Sudan.
Sudan is now 20 months into a brutal civil war, displacing over 12 million people.
Many find themselves on the move with nothing—no food, water, or belongings.
In Tobo, we hear numerous harrowing tales, including that of a woman who fled her home in the capital, Khartoum, after it was struck by a bomb.
Her daughter perished in the attack, and she had recently given birth, similarly to her daughter. This meant that as she undertook the grueling 800-kilometer journey to Tobo, she carried both her newborn and her newly orphaned grandchild.
This woman (L) escaped from Khartoum following a bombing incident.
She is now nursing both children.
South Kordofan is one of the more stable regions in Sudan, drawing in about a million people escaping the civil war.
They reside in 15 displacement camps scattered throughout the rural landscape.
As more individuals arrive, they bring with them horrific accounts of devastating conflict, extreme hunger, and sexual violence.
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At Tobo camp, limited but effective emotional support is available.
Najuwa Yassir has been living here for two years and now serves as a counselor for the newcomers, conducting daily counseling sessions.
She mentions that she aims to “encourage them to adjust to the conditions until help perhaps arrives.”
“I’m just utilizing the skills I possess… I have not been formally trained.”
She reports that up to 20 people participate in these daily sessions.
Najuwa Yassir (R) leading a session with newcomers at the Tobo camp.
Addressing a crisis of this magnitude in Sudan with the current level of support is likened to applying a band-aid, according to many humanitarian organizations operating in the area.
With global attention diverted elsewhere, obtaining sufficient aid to make a sustainable impact in Sudan is proving to be an enormous challenge.
The UN estimates that €1.5 billion is needed to tackle Sudan’s escalating crisis, with only a third of that amount secured from donors, leaving aid agencies struggling to meet the growing demand.
