Sudan Defenders July Newsletter
Greetings from Sudan Defenders
We are excited to present the inaugural edition of our monthly newsletter, a new initiative by the Sudan Human Rights Defenders Coalition. Since our first General Assembly in 2021, Sudan Defenders has expanded to include 41 organizational members and 15 individual HRDs, reflecting our dedication to human rights advocacy in Sudan. This newsletter will provide updates on our activities, the human rights situation in Sudan, and our efforts to promote justice and peace. We aim for it to be a valuable resource for supporters and the international community in our shared mission to uphold human rights and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
July was a particularly eventful month for Sudan Defenders. We participated in a significant training on the protection of HRDs and effective advocacy strategies, organized by esteemed partners including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Freedom House, and Frontline Defenders. 20 HRDs attended the training.
A second training was organized by DefendDefenders which focused on both physical and
digital security for HRDs. This initiative underscores our ongoing efforts to equip our members with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the challenging landscape of human rights advocacy.
We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Sudan Defenders office, supported by DefendDefenders, with an official launch scheduled for August. This new office marks a significant milestone in our organizational development and will serve as a hub for our activities and outreach efforts.
The current situation in Sudan remains dire, both for civilians and HRDs, whether they are within the country or in exile. Over 10 million people have been displaced, with reports of widespread destruction of medical facilities, indiscriminate shelling of civilians, and conflict- related sexual violence—clear violations of international human rights law. We call upon the
international community to provide humanitarian aid and to advocate for an immediate end to the ongoing conflict.
Unfortunately, despite the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024), which calls for the withdrawal of all fighters to ensure civilian safety, the violence continues unabated. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have not ceased hostilities, particularly in North Darfur, where there has been an increase in air strikes and serious human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), attacks on journalists, and further restrictions on civic space.
THROUGH THE EYES OF BEDOUR ZAKARIA MOHAMMED
Bedour Zakaria Mohammed’s life was turned upside down when war broke out in Sudan on April 15th, 2023. Her family was displaced across various parts of the country. Some found
refuge in El Geneina and Nyala, South Darfur, while others crossed borders into South Sudan. Those who sought safety in Chad refugee camps faced dire conditions, forcing them to return to El Geneina despite the risks. The violence has dispersed families, leaving many without basic necessities. People in the camps need food, as the conflict prevents farming, and there is a
critical shortage of medication for diseases like malaria and malnutrition. Additionally, the lack of adequate shelter, such as plastic sheets, exacerbates their suffering.
“I lost everything I had—my home, my possessions, and tragically, my older brother, was killed in June 2023 during the conflict in El Geneina. It was a week before I learned of his death, and shortly after, my sister, mother, and niece had to flee to the mountains, seeking refuge from the violence. We endured harsh conditions, often sleeping on the bare ground, and standing through the rain, waiting for it to pass before we could lie down again,” shares Bedour Zakaria Mohammed.
Six months after the war broke out in September 2023, Bedour Zakaria Mohammed relocated to Uganda. Now a Human Rights Defender (HRD) based there, Bedour’s journey has been marked by profound loss and resilience. She continues to advocate for human rights within civil society, drawing on her experiences as a teacher, activist, and advocate. Through her eyes, the ongoing war has had a devastating impact, with entire families being killed and many more displaced, forced to seek shelter wherever they can. The recruitment of children as soldiers not only robs them of their childhood but also deepens the wounds of the nation.
Bedour urges the international community to intervene and put an end to the war. She calls for those responsible for the atrocities to be held accountable. “The pain and devastation inflicted on Sudan must not continue; we need the world to stand with us, to stop the violence, and to bring justice to those who have harmed our people,” she pleads.
HUMANITARIAN IMPACT
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded over 6,760 events of political violence and more than 18,760 reported fatalities in the month of July.
On 29 July 2024, United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)) reported that about 25.6 million people – over half of the population of Sudan – face acute hunger, including more than 755,000 people on the brink of famine, according to the latest analysis.
On 23 July 2024, an estimated 10.7 million people (2.1 million families) are reported to be in internally displaced according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Mechanism (DTM).
RELIEF EFFORTS
Civil society organizations, both national and international, continue to provide aid despite limitations imposed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Here are some key initiatives:
Wadi Hower International Organization for Relief and Development is supplying drinking water to shelter centers in Al-Fashir.
The National Planning Organization, with support from UNICEF, conducted maintenance work on the water pump in the Tawila al-Omda area to provide drinking water to internally displaced persons (IDPs). Additionally, they constructed 26 latrines in Tawila camps.
In collaboration with UNICEF and the Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Health, the National Planning Organization organized a training workshop on surveys and measurements in the At-Tweisha locality.
ADVOCACY AND POLICY
On July 29, 2024, the government of Sudan conditionally accepted an invitation to attend U.S.- sponsored peace talks in Geneva, raising hopes for advancing efforts to end a 15-month-old war. However, by 31 July 2024, Sudan Army Leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced he would not attend the talks with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Switzerland, following an attack on him during a military graduation in Gebit, Eastern Sudan, despite the RSF denying involvement.
The war in Sudan continues to rage on, and the cries for help from the Sudanese people are still being ignored, with minimal coverage on the international news front.
lease change the alignment of the document to Justify under the Home tab of the Microsoft office app.
We need to find a way to break the monotony of the text with info graphics. The communications officer on your end needs to help you out on this. We can also arrange for you to learn some skills from Gentrix and Esther on our end.
The logo of Sudan Defenders is spilling over into the text in some of the pages.
Maybe you might want to have a conversation on inserting office details of Sudan Defenders in the document.
There is a need to agree on the thematic areas of the newsletter. Maybe: civic space, human rights trends, Achievements of Sudan Defenders for the month ( include number of emergency protection) Advocacy initiatives and areas of collaboration