Sudan: Remaining orphans from Madani denied entrance to Kassala where they've sought refuge

SADLY, this post at X by Munchkin Jan 8 says "after over week-long struggle to evacuate remaining orphaned children & caretakers from RSF-besieged Jezira, reports that group was denied entrance to Kassala where they have sought refuge. Refusal reportedly came from the Governor, citing “security risk" #KeepEyesOnSudan". Is it true? Read reports below as a backgrounder.

- After over week-long struggle to evacuate remaining orphaned children & caretakers from RSF-besieged Jezira, reports that group was denied entrance to Kassala where they have sought refuge.

- Refusal reportedly came from the Governor, citing “security risk”.#KeepEyesOnSudan

— Munchkin (@BSonblast) January 8, 2024 

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Related Reports

Sudan Watch - April 21, 2023

#NoToWar - Heroes aid Khartoum "You are welcome" - Hadhreen "We are present and ready to help"

At least 498 children in Sudan, and likely hundreds more, have died from hunger, including two dozen babies in a state orphanage, as critical services run out of food or close, according to a recent statement by the international NGO Save the Children (SC).  ... When Nazim Sirag, who heads Hadhreen, heard about more than 300 terrified children at an orphanage in Khartoum in need of food, water and medicine. He tweeted: "We can't provide milk for new-born babies, everyone is afraid." In response to our query via WhatsApp if any help had been found through his network, he says: "We are trying to reach them. Till now we failed. Everyone in Sudan is scared to go out," adding that the orphanage was in one of the "hot areas". "Tomorrow we have [to] try early in the morning. Wish us luck."

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/04/notowar-heroes-aid-khartoum-you-are.html

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Sudan Watch - May 29, 2023

Khartoum orphanage - 50 children including 24 babies died as fighting prevented staff reaching them

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/05/khartoum-orphanage-50-children.html

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Sudan Watch - December 20, 2023

Sudan: ICRC please help the children evacuated from Mygoma Orphanage in Khartoum to Wad Madani

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/12/sudan-icrc-please-help-children.html

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Sudan Watch - December 20, 2023

Sudan: UNICEF is working with partners to help 200 orphan babies evacuated from Khartoum to Madani

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/12/sudan-unicef-is-working-with-partners.html

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Sudan Watch - December 26, 2023

URGENT NOTE TO UNICEF'S MANDEEP O'BRIEN: Update evacuation of Mygoma orphans from Madani

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/12/urgent-note-to-unicefs-mandeep-obrien.html

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Sudan Watch - December 28, 2023

UNICEF Sudan: 253 babies and children have been safely evacuated from transit centres in Wad Madani

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/12/unicef-sudan-253-babies-and-children.html

ENDS 

Sudan: UNICEF is working with partners to help 200 orphan babies evacuated from Khartoum to Madani

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: This copy of a post at X by Channel 4 News 19 Dec 2023 links to its video report containing news of 200 orphaned babies evacuated from Mygoma Orphanage in Khartoum to Wad Madani, Aj Jazirah. It shows footage of the orphans and their carer tearfully pleading for help, saying of the 200 babies he looks after, half need specialist care. 

The video report shows a UNICEF logo behind Ms. Mandeep O'Brien, Sudan Country Representative, UNICEF saying: “These are safe spaces, we are deeply worried about their situation and we are currently working with partners to see what practical solutions can be done to help these children”.

250,000 flee Sudan’s second city as paramilitary seizes controlhttps://t.co/dPP8adSsxX

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) December 19, 2023

Here is an intro to the report, copied from the website of Channel 4 News:

19 Dec 2023

250,000 flee Sudan’s second city as paramilitary seizes control 

By Keme Nzerem 

A quarter of a million people have been forced to flee heavy fighting in a part of Sudan which was supposed to be a safe haven. The UN said the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces had seized control of the country’s second city Wad Madani – where hundreds of thousands of people from Khartoum have been seeking shelter. Aid organisations have suspended their work in the area, with reports of widespread looting. 

Keme Nzerem reports. 

Channel 4 News is the main news programme on British television broadcaster Channel 4. It is produced by ITN, and has been in operation since Channel 4's launch in November 1982. -Wikipedia

View original and video: https://www.channel4.com/news/250000-flee-sudans-second-city-as-paramilitary-seizes-control 

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Related

Sudan Watch - May 29, 2023

Khartoum orphanage - 50 children including 24 babies died as fighting prevented staff reaching them

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/05/khartoum-orphanage-50-children.html

Sudan Watch - December 20, 2023

Sudan: ICRC please help the children evacuated from Mygoma Orphanage in Khartoum to Wad Madani

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/12/sudan-icrc-please-help-children.html

ENDS

Sudan: Brutal, targeted attacks on civilians must stop

"HUMANITARIAN organizations can no longer tolerate being prevented from responding to the immense needs in Sudan. International humanitarian law requires all parties to facilitate humanitarian operations. The people of Sudan have suffered enough. The time has come to guarantee a neutral, impartial humanitarian environment, and to provide aid that will truly meet people’s needs. History has shown that if belligerents comply with the laws of war, there is more hope of peace and reconciliation". Read more.

News Release from The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Dated Tuesday, 21 November 2023 SUDAN - here is a copy in full:

Sudan: Brutal, targeted attacks on civilians must stop

Patrick Youssef is regional director for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross. He has just returned from Sudan, where he met representatives of the government and of the Rapid Support Forces. As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, he is sounding the alarm

Despair and violence have taken over in Sudan. Recent discussions in Jeddah have not resulted in a ceasefire – quite the opposite. Military activity is increasing in many parts of the country. A devastating humanitarian crisis is developing right in front of our eyes.

Weapons bring power. But that power imposes a responsibility on the warring parties – indeed, an obligation – to respect and protect the civilian population, as required by international humanitarian law.

This war has resulted in countless deaths and forced almost seven million people to flee the fighting. ICRC and Sudanese Red Crescent teams receive daily calls for help. Families are asking us to help them evacuate the sick, the wounded or members of their families, because they fear they will be arrested if they move on their own. Some report that members of their families have disappeared. Others describe desperate shortages of food and water. The price of a standard food basket has risen by 60% since April 2023, leaving some 20 million people facing acute food insecurity.

In Darfur, western Sudan, fighting has reached critical levels, affecting the populated areas of the main towns: Al Jeneina, Zalingei and Nyala. Military operations are seriously affecting the functioning of hospitals and depriving people of electricity and telecommunications.

Despite the dangers, we are making every effort to ensure that no-one is abandoned in the areas where we are operating. This week, we sent a surgical team and medical supplies to Al Jeneina University Hospital, where war-wounded patients are in urgent need of treatment.

We are constantly reminding all parties that they must allow the sick and injured to obtain medical care. In particular, this means refraining from harming people who are not participating in the fighting and allowing enemy wounded to receive treatment.

Today, at the request of the parties to the conflict, we have returned over 60 prisoners to their families in Nyala, southern Darfur. We are grateful that we could help reunite those families after months of separation. All these operations underline the importance of the ICRC’s neutrality and of its ability to work with all parties.

But the response is still very limited. Humanitarian organizations can no longer tolerate being prevented from responding to the immense needs in Sudan. International humanitarian law requires all parties to facilitate humanitarian operations. 

Simplifying the administrative formalities would be a first step towards this. We therefore reiterate our appeal to all sides, to take concrete, practical steps in line with the commitments they made during the talks in Jeddah.

The people of Sudan have suffered enough. The time has come to guarantee a neutral, impartial humanitarian environment, and to provide aid that will truly meet people’s needs. History has shown that if belligerents comply with the laws of war, there is more hope of peace and reconciliation.

About the ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, impartial and independent organization with an exclusively humanitarian mandate that stems from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It helps people around the world affected by armed conflict and other violence, doing everything it can to protect their lives and dignity and to relieve their suffering, often alongside its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners.

 

For more information, please contact:

Germain Mwehu, ICRC Wad Madani, +249 912 150 735, gemwehu@icrc.org

Florian Seriex, ICRC Nairobi, +254 110 938 077, fseriex@icrc.org

Halimatou Amadou, ICRC Geneva, +41 79 868 55 83, hamadou@icrc.org

View original: https://www.icrc.org/en/document/sudan-brutal-targeted-attacks-on-civilians-must-stop

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Sudan: 9,000+ IDPs in N. Darfur receive essentials

News release from International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Dated Wednesday 23 August 2023 - here is a full copy:

Ecosec Distribution in North Darfur

Sudan: Over 9,000 displaced people in North Darfur receive essential items

Wad Madani (ICRC) – This week, over 9,000 displaced people in Jokhii village, west of Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State, received essential household items from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS). 

Fighting in several localities in North Darfur has forced the population to flee to Al Fashir and nearby villages to seek safety.

"People live in dire conditions, under the pouring rain and the scorching sun," says Mohamed Ishaq, ICRC economic security officer in North Darfur. 

"Some stay in makeshift shelters made of tree branches and ragged garments, as they managed to take almost nothing when they fled their villages."

Each family received items like tarps, mosquito nets, blankets, jerry cans, buckets, sleeping mats, clothes, kitchen sets, and hygiene kits for women. 

The aid aims to improve the displaced people's living conditions and restore a sense of dignity.

Together with the SRCS, the ICRC has provided relief and essential assistance to thousands of displaced people since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan in mid-April.

For more information, please contact:

Adnan Hezam, tel: +201551680068, email: ahizam@icrc.org

Alyona Synenko, tel: + 254716897265, email: asynenko@icrc.org

View original: https://www.icrc.org/en/document/sudan-over-9000-displaced-people-north-darfur-receive-essential-items

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Alert to HRW & ICRC Sudan: Thousands missing since April 15. Names of 91 missing persons in Khartoum

THANKS to Radio Dabanga for its report (30 June 2023 - ACJPS calls for accountability regarding war crimes in Sudan) linking to the article now reprinted here below. This post (hosted by Google) will be picked up by search engines and made freely available on the internet for many years to come. Many people, mostly males, disappear in Sudan possibly arrested or enslaved by fighters. Note that using children as child soldiers is a war crime.

Here is an article published at Africa Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) website on Thursday 29 June 2023 - full copy:

Photo Credit: Al jazeera

URGENT CALL TO SUDANESE AUTHORITIES, RSF AND SAF TO ACCOUNT FOR THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS WHO HAVE GONE MISSING SINCE THE ARMED CONFLICT ERUPTED 

(29 June 2023) - Africa Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses deep concern about the increasing number of missing persons across Sudan since the armed conflict erupted on 15 April 2023. 

We call upon the Sudanese authorities, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to account for all the missing persons, specifically those who are known to have been forcefully disappeared or are being held incommunicado by SAF and RSF.

Sudanese authorities must uphold their international obligations under relevant regional and international treaties which Sudan ratified by immediately carrying out independent, transparent and effective investigations with a view to determining the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons since 15 April 2023. 

Where victims are in the custody of the state (SAF), they should be either unconditionally released, or charged before the courts of law.

We also call upon the RSF to release all victims in their custody. For those who have died, graves must be shown to families/relatives and bodies released for proper burial. Perpetrators must be held to account through fair trials. We further call upon the warring parties to desist from arbitrarily arresting, detaining and torturing civilians.

Since the armed conflict broke out on 15 April 2023, ACJPS has documented 91 missing persons most of whom have been arrested by either by SAF or RSF. A few people have since been released. 

For example, Mr. Mohamed Alhadi, a medical doctor who was arrested at a check point near Jackson Station in Khartoum by SAF soldiers. Mr. Mohamed was stopped and the soldiers asked for his Identity Card which he presented. The soldiers then started questioning him about his origin and accused him of being affiliated to RSF. He was then arrested and taken to a detention centre where he found 17 other detainees in a small cell measuring 4 by 4 metres. The detainees were all arrested for similar reasons and they were subjected to torture. They had their hands tied and were beaten up by the soldiers and verbally abused.

On 29 April 2023, Mr. Husham S Mohamed was arrested by RSF at a check point in Jabel Awlia. Mr. Mohamed was on his way to Port Sudan when a bus he was travelling in was stopped and he was asked to get out. He was questioned about the whereabouts of Gen. Al-Burhan to ascertain whether he is a SAF member to which he answered in the negative. He was then searched and assaulted before he was allowed to return to the bus. Mr. Mohamed arrived at his home in Alkalaka safely but it was later destroyed by an air bomb.

 

In the recent years, there has been increased use of “short-term” disappearances where victims are detained incommunicado for a period of time and, eventually freed. The same tactic was used during the 2018-2019 Sudan revolution and after the 25th of October 2021 coup. 

Unfortunately, enforced disappearances in Sudan are often coupled with other gross human rights violations, such as the practice of arbitrary arrests and/or detention, torture, rape and in some cases death, particularly by national security officers, RSF and armed militias. This is facilitated by the fact that victims are often detained incommunicado, in “inaccessible” detention centres and in unknown locations, thus placing them outside of protection of the law with no access to legal remedies.

Sudan must domesticate the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances  as a fundamental step towards the prevention, and the ultimate elimination, of the inadmissible practice of enforced disappearances. Laws that grant immunity to perpetrators must be amended, detention centres outside the normal custodial system, where victims are frequently held incommunicado must be closed. We urge regional and International human rights bodies to collectively and strongly demand that Sudan must end all enforced disappearances and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. An independent international fact-finding mission, must be dispatched to establish the facts and circumstances of the alleged recent crime of enforced disappearance committed in the Sudan.

ACJPS has obtained names of 91 missing persons since 15 April 2023 in Khartoum.

• Abdeen Salah Youssef (m) from Alazhari neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 18th April, 2023
• Abdul Gadir Bala (m) from Industrial Area neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Abdul Gadir Mohamed Abdul Gadir (m) from an area around SAF headquarters in Central Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023.
• Abdul Rahim Bakhit Abdul Rahim (m) from East Nile neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 26th April, 2023
• Abdul Rahim Bakhit (m) from Omdurman. Went missing on 27th April, 2023.
• Abdulla Osman Abdullah (m) from Alduom East neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Abdullah Ismail (m) from Alryad Alhuria neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 29th April, 2023
• Abu Bakar Mohamed Osman (m) from Alnuzha neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 21st April, 2023
• Adam Bakhit Mohamed Fad Allah from Alshiglah neighborhood in Omdurman. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Adam Jamal Eldien (m) from Jabrah neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 28th April, 2023
• Adil Alagib Farah (m). Went missing on 15th April, 2023 from Khartoum International Airport
• Adil Salah Sharaf Eldien Suleiman (m) from Almanshia neighborhood in Khartoum. Went Missing on 21st April, 2023
• Ahmed Zachariah Aldood (m). Went missing on 15th April, 2023 from Khartoum International Airport.
• Ali Mohamed Ali Tarar (m) from Khartoum. Went missing on 29th April, 2023
• Ali Omer Tuto Kafi (m) from Khartoum. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Aljazuli Osman Fageer (m) from Al-haj Youssef neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 29th April, 2023
• Almahadi Ahmed Almahadi (m) went missing on 28th April, 2023 from Central Khartoum Market
• Almudathier Suliman Adam (m) from Althura, Square 7 in Omdurman. Went missing on 18th April, 2023
• Alnoor AL Bashir Alskekh (m) from Karari neighborhood in Omdurman. Went missing on 16th April, 2023
• Alwathiq Abu Damir Mohamed (m) from East Nile neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 23rd April, 2023
• Amaal Abadi Aldaw (f) from Althura neighborhood in Omdurman. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Awad Mohamed kHalifa (m) from Air Port Street in Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Ayoum James Manyol Arul (m) from Algadsia neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 19th April, 2023
• Azil Awad Aljazuli (m) from Alamarat neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Badur Eldien Abdullah (m) from East Nile neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 23rd April, 2023
• Bashir Ismail Ahmed Elyas (m) from Almualim neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Dahab Ali abdul Aziz (m) from Aabic Market in Khartoum. Went missing on 16th April, 2023
• Doud Musa Mohamed Ibrahim (m) from Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Elteyeb Mutwakil (m) from Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Esam Eldien Adam Isa (m) from Omdurman. Went missing on 28th April, 2023.
• Faris Abdul Hameed bahar (m) from Aljrafa neighborhood in Omdurman. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Farooq Zahir (m) from 60th Street in Arkaweet neighborhood, Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Hamam Abdullah Al-Mubarak (m) from Kafori neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Hashiem Mohamed Alaskan (m) from Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023 and was last seen near SAF club in Khartoum
• Hassan Mohamed Adam (m) from Alsahafa neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Ibrahim Abdul Kareem Ahmed (m) from Burri neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 16th April, 2023
• Ibrahim babakir Ibrahim (m) from Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Ibrahim Babkir (m) from Khartoum ii neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Ibrahim Fakhar Eldien awad salih (m) from Alryaad neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 30th April, 2023
• Ibrahim Humida Agabeen (m) from Alfetihab neighborhood in Omdurman. Went missing on 24th April, 2023
• Ismail Abbas (m). He went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Ismail Abdul gadir Aljali (m). He went missing on 24th April, 2023
• Jafar Sulfab Mohamed Sulfab (m) from Aldroshab neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Khalid Muzaz Saad Ibarhim (m) from Alamarta neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Mahmoud Munstaris (m). He went missing on 21st April, 2023
• Mamdoh Jamal Mohamed Ahmed (m) from Burri neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 16th April, 2023
• Maysoon Mahjoob Mohamed (f) from Hai Adobate neighborhood in Omdurman. She has been missing since 4th April, 2023
• Mazin Ahmed Hassan (m) from Alhalfaia neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Has been missing since 15th April, 2023
• Mazin Taha (m) from Jabara neighborhood in Khartoum. He went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Mohamed Abu Bakar Hamada (m) from Arkaweet neighborhood in Khartoum. He went missing on 19th April, 2023
• Mohamed Adam Ibrahim Alhaje (m) from Alamir (Umbada) neighborhood in Omdurman. He went missing on 26th April, 2023
• Mohamed Ahmed (m). Went missing on 20th April 2023 from Khartoum Arabic Market
• Mohamed Alhadi Isa Obid (m) from Eldom East neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 20th April, 2023
• Mohamed Alhaj Mohamed (m) from Jabrah neighborhood in Khartoum. He has been missing since 16th April, 2023
• Mohamed Alhashimi Atif (m) from Shambat neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. He went missing on 16th April, 2023
• Mohamed Bashir Mukhtar (m) from Alengaz neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 25th April, 2023
• Mohamed Bashir Mukhtar Abakar (m) from Alengaz neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 25th April, 2023
• Mohamed Elyas Hameed (m) from Alkalakla neighborhood in South Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Mohamed Fadlaah Alamin (m) was last seen 15th April, 2023 from SAF headquarters square in Khartoum
• Mohamed Fadul Allah Alamin (m) was last seen on 14th April, 2023 near SAF headquarters in Khartoum
• Mohamed Haneef Allah (m) from Alhuria neighborhood in Khartoum. He has been missing since 19th April, 2023
• Mohamed Hasan hashem (m). Went missing on 15th April, 2023 at Sudanese Army Forces Club neighborhood in Khartoum
• Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Alneam (m) was last seen on 15th April, 2023 at Khartoum International Airport
• Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Nameem (m) has been missing since 15th April, 2023 and was last seen at Khartoum International Airport
• Mohanad Mahamoud Zain (m) from Alfetihab neighborhood in Omdurman. Has been missing since 24th April, 2023
• Muhi Eldien Bashir Abdul Bagi (m) from Haj Yosef Almagoma neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Has been missing since 22nd April, 2023
• Mujaheed Shaish Eldien (m) from central Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Muneer Maki Segen Harwat (m) from Khartoum. Has been missing since 16th April, 2023
• Murad Endook Wisk (m) from Aljereef neighborhood in Khartoum. Has been missing since 16th April, 2023
• Murtada Abbas Eltelib (m) from East Nile neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 16th April, 2023
• Musab Abdullah Elteyeb (m) from Jeyad neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Mustafa Gisim (m) from Alsahafa neighborhood in Khartoum. Went missing on 17th April, 2023
• Mustafa Mohamed Alhassan (m) from Khartoum Sport town. He went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Muzamil Abdula Rahman Baba Allah (m) from Kafwrie neighborhood in Khartoum. Has been missing since 24th April, 2023
• Najm Eldeen Mohamed (m) from Alryad Alhuria neighborhood in Khartoum. He has been missing since 29th April, 2023
• Omer Abdul Raheed Hussen (m) went missing on 18th April, 2023 from Doctors Guest House in Khartoum
• Omer Abu Bakar Alsmani (m) from East Nile neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Has been missing since 15th April, 2023
• Omer Abu Bakar Alsmani (m) from East Nile neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 15th April, 2023
• Omer Alsafi Omer Nimir (m) from Alklakla neighborhood in Khartoum. Has been missing since 30th April, 2023
• Omer Youssef Ahmed Garad (m) from Omdurman. He has been missing since 29th April, 2023
• Qurashi Ahmed Quarshi (m) from Abu Hamah neighborhood in Khartoum. Has been missing since 17th April, 2023
• Rwaa (f) from Helat Hamad neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 18th April, 2023
• Saas Abdul Salam Mahmoud (m) from Khartoum ii neighborhood in Khartoum. He has been missing since 18th April, 2023
• Saif Eldien Idris Eldoma (m) from Khartoum Bahari. Has been missing since 19th April, 2023
• Sidiq Ismail Mohamed (m) from Omdurman. He has been missing since 23rd April, 2023
• Tariq Mohamed Allusion(m) from Althura neighborhood in Omdurman. Has been missing since 16th April 2023 around 04:00pm
• Wale Eldien Mohamed Ahmed (m) from Khartoum Bahari. Went missing on 18th April, 2023
• Wali Eduen Adam Hameed (m) from Khartoum Bahari. Has been missing since 17th April, 2023
• Yair Abdullah Ibarahim (m) from Al-Haj Youssef neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari. Has been missing since 28th April, 2023
• Yasir Mohamed Abdullah Bakar (m) from Alhuria neighborhood in Khartoum. Has been missing since 19th April, 2023
• Yassin Awad Hama Shuaib (m) Has been missing since 15th April, 2023 and was last seen at Arabic Market in Khartoum.

View original: http://www.acjps.org/urgent-call-to-sudanese-authorities-rsf-and-saf-to-account-for-thousands-of-citizens-who-have-gone-missing-since-the-armed-conflict-erupted/

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Sudan: Majority of humanitarian NGO have *not* been issued new sudan visas since conflict began

"The denial of humanitarian assistance as a crime under international law"

A TWEET by William Carter @WillCarter_NRC
Father. Country Director #Sudan @NRC_Norway
Dated Sunday 18 June 2023; 2:50 pm - full copy:

majority of #humanitarian ngo have *not* been issued new #sudan visas in the two months since the #conflict began

about 100 visa applications are still pending from over 30 orgs

we've had a team of 20 on standby for over a month - we could've helped 200k #displaced people by now.  instead its far less, and will take longer - time which nobody can afford

its clear that humanitarian #access is impeded but unclear if its indecision or intention.  its not a capacity bottleneck - visas are issued for non-humanitarian efforts

regardless, ministries and federal authorities can and should easily unblock this

these unnecessary delays have huge, real-life consequence for the humanitarian response, for delivering #aid and services to millions who are suffering

un ga resolution 46/182 outlines that 'states whose populations are in need of humanitarian assistance are called upon to facilitate the work of these organisations in implementing humanitarian assistance' (para. 6), and that the un has a 'central and unique role to play' to 'ensure the prompt and smooth delivery of relief assistance' (para. 13) -- so the un in all its councils, assemblies, members, and agencies all need to fulfil their role too

this hasn't happened yet

i often reflect on this icrc article, which argues that the denial of humanitarian assistance is a crime under international law (https://icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/article/other/57jq32.htm…), and wonder why global, continental, and regional powers so easily tolerate such arbitrary impediments from the icrc's commentary of the geneva conventions, which form the core of international humanitarian #law and regulate the conduct of armed conflict, they outline that its not really up to the discretion of warring parties: 

"if the survival of the population is threatened and a humanitarian organization fulfilling the required conditions of impartiality and non-discrimination is able to remedy this situation, relief actions must take place (...) [a] refusal would be equivalent to a violation of the rule prohibiting the use of starvation as a method of combat"

there are positive signs of support and permission with many state-level authorities, embassy consular staff, and even the federal-level humanitarian aid commission is supportive of ngo visa issuance, but:

-not all high-level decision-makers are facilitating

-few stakeholders are confronting/resolving this

-ngos are operating, but quickly scaling is v difficult

-all sudanese civilians are suffering for it

View original: 

https://twitter.com/WillCarter_NRC/status/1670428651299405825

[Ends]