Sudan: Video on Kassala Youth Emergency Room

I am IN AWE of @Nas_shagala, just as I am in AWE of the subjects of their videos.

My God, what important work!

Watch this video centering the Kassala emergency response team.

My people are carrying each other, saving one another.https://t.co/4QefDlwu4j#KeepEyesOnSudan

— Munchkin (@BSonblast) December 27, 2023

Here's the video for those who cannot access the microblogging platform X: 

And here is a direct link to the video at YouTube: 

https://youtu.be/GoOIhcRFCIQ?feature=shared

A description of the video at YouTube says, in Arabic and English:

"Kassala Youth Emergency Room 

At a distance of 625 km from the war-torn Khartoum due to the conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, the film “Kassala Youth Emergency Room”, documents an initiative by people working in Kassala.

It shows a team of volunteers working for over 102,777 displaced people in Kassala State, noting that this number doubled after the outbreak of war in Wad Madani city on the eighteenth of December. Kassala state and locality are some of the most important destinations in eastern Sudan for survivors of the war in Khartoum, Darfur, and the Gezira.

The film follows the Emergency Room’s volunteers, showcasing their support for those affected by the April 15 war, from evacuation, welcoming and housing in shelters to providing material and psychological support to children throughout the past eight months.

“War is psychological destruction! For us, this is the priority to evacuate people!”

Waad Mahjoub Altahir, Member of the Communications and Public Relations Office Kassala youth emergency room."

ENDS

UK to raise security situation in Sudan in UNSC today

The UK will raise the security situation in Sudan in the Security Council tomorrow.

This follows the continued advance by paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of Wad Madani.

The UN reports at least 250,000 people have already fled the violence. pic.twitter.com/nKI8Yx037j

— UK at the UN 🇬🇧🇺🇳 (@UKUN_NewYork) December 20, 2023

ENDS

Sudan: Sennar, where thousands of people fleeing Wad Madani have arrived, is a panicked city says NRC

#Sudan: @AhmedOmer, Communications Coordinator in Sudan describes the current situation in Sennar, where thousands of people fleeing Wad Madani have arrived. pic.twitter.com/yq2oftVm7G

— NRC East Africa and Yemen (@NRC_EAY) December 19, 2023

Transcript of sub-titles taken from the above audio clip:

Ahmed Omer’s voice 

Communications Coordinator at NRC [Norwegian Refugee Council] in Sudan 

"They are hungry, they are panicked, they are ill and the situation in the city is getting difficult. There is no fuel in the city even for the cars. That is why the transportation fees is increasing. There is no fuel. Even in the black market it is difficult to find and when you find it is more than 50,000 SDG per a gallon of petrol.

People here in Sennar, are trying to get in vehicles, whatever vehicle you find, you just jump on to it, particularly trucks, the pickup trucks and the bigger trucks. They jump on it. I saw this on the streets. They just jump. But for the families, for women and children, it’s really difficult. So they are trying to hire buses or to take buses. And buses are limited here. 

So what I’m seeing here right now in front of me are people on the streets, in the streets just carrying their luggages and walking, just people walking. It reminds me of Khartoum and what happened there when we saw people walking. When we saw the pictures of people walking, taking the luggages with them. So it’s a panicked city".

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Sudan: SAF to investigate its withdrawal from Madani

Report from Reuters online
Dated Tuesday, 19 December 2023, 4:13 PM GMT - here is a copy in full:

Sudanese army says its forces have withdrawn from Wad Madani city - statement

CAIRO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Sudanese army said in a statement on Tuesday that its forces have withdrawn from positions in Wad Madani city, adding that it will investigate the reasons for the withdrawal.

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took over Wad Madani, a city packed with displaced people and an aid hub, earlier this week.

Reporting by Moaz Abd-Alaziz, Writing by Nayera Abdallah, Editing by Christina Fincher

View original: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudanese-army-says-its-forces-have-withdrawn-wad-madani-city-statement-2023-12-19/

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Sudan: Janjaweed seizes control of Wad Madani

From The Guardian
By Zeinab Mohammed Salih in Khartoum
Dated Monday, 18 December 2023, 20.04 GMT

RSF paramilitary seizes control of Wad Madani, Sudan’s second city

Advance comes after three days of intense fighting that forced thousands to flee towards the south

People sit near a van loaded with belongings as they leave Wad Madani on Monday. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/18/rsf-paramilitary-seizes-control-of-wad-madani-sudans-second-city

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Sudan: "300,000 fled in 72 hrs with little to survive on. Most in makeshift shelters with no food. We're giving relief items tomorrow in Sennar & Gedaref. But we've little left. This is catastrophic". -Will Carter, NRC

UN is saying up to 300,000 people have left Gezira state since the RSF advance began on Friday, mostly to states that are already full to capacity.

300,000 people fled in 72 hours.
There's so little for them to survive on; most live in makeshift shelters with no food.
We're finishing needs assessments & starting distributions of relief items tomorrow in Sennar, then Gedaref. But we've little left.

This is catastrophic. https://t.co/CsM2cikhQ9 pic.twitter.com/CR3kRgmEd3

— William Carter (@WillCarter_NRC) December 18, 2023

END

Sudan: Areas of immediate humanitarian concern are Al Fasher N Darfur, River Nile, Wad Medani Aj Jazirah

SUDAN 

Areas of immediate humanitarian concern

Flash Update No: 01, as of Monday, 18 December 2023 

Source: OCHA 

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Situation in Al Fasher, North Darfur State
On 16 December 2023, clashes renewed between SAF and RSF in Al Fasher Town of Al Fasher locality, North Darfur. As a result of the violence, the DTM reported three individuals were reportedly killed, and 10 others were injured. It was also reported that approximately 750 people have been displaced. Affected residents have been displaced from Abu Shock and Al Salam IDP camps to eastern neighborhoods within Al Fasher Town. Personal and commercial property was reportedly burnt and looted. The situation remains tense and unpredictable.

Situation in River Nile State
On 17 December, the authorities in River Nile State issued a decision to close the Nile crossings and bridges at 22.00 hours to 06.00 hours. These include nightly closure of the Umm Al-Tuyour and Al-Bashir bridges which constitute Nile crossing points for movement between the River Nile State and the Northern and Khartoum states.

Following RSF’s attack and looting of the Sudanese Police Force Station at Umm Shadida, in Shendi locality there have been increased fears of possible assaults on Atbara or Ed Damer due to their strategic connection with the rest of Sudan including eastern Sudan and Northern State.

Situation in Wad Medani, Aj Jazirah State
For information regarding the situation in Wad Medani please refer to our latest flash update: Sudan: Clashes in Wad Madani between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - Flash Update No: 03 (as of 18 December 2023)

Background

After years of protracted crisis, Sudan plunged into a conflict of alarming scale in mid-April 2023 when fighting between SAF and RSF, broke out initially in the capital Khartoum on April 15, and quickly expanded to other areas across the country. Khartoum has been the site of heavy fighting, while severe violent clashes and heavy bombardments have also been reported in the greater Darfur and Kordofan regions. The hostilities have resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure and facilities, including water and healthcare, the collapse of banking and financial services, frequent interruptions to electricity supply and telecommunication services and widespread looting. Since the conflict broke out, humanitarian needs have increased and almost 25 million people now require assistance in Sudan. More than 6.7 million people have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety elsewhere.

An estimated three million people live in North Darfur State. 2.7 people need humanitarian assistance. Since April 15, nearly 446,000 people are displaced in North Darfur with about 86 per cent displaced from within the State. 147,000 of those are in Al Fasher town. About 966,000 people are in crisis (IPC 3) and above levels of food security in the state with 335,000 in Al Fasher between October 2023 and February 2024, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). There are ten humanitarian organizations working in the state, including one INGO and nine NNGOs. So far this year humanitarian organizations have reached 383,000 people in the State with food assistance, WASH, health and other humanitarian interventions.

An estimated two million people live in River Nile State, 636,000 people need humanitarian assistance. Since April 15, nearly 616,000 people fled to River Nile State, 94,000 of those are in Atbara. About 247,000 people are in crisis (IPC 3) and above levels of food security in the state with 27,000 in Atbara between October 2023 and February 2024, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). There are 16 humanitarian organizations working in the state, including four INGOs, seven NNGOs and five UN agencies. So far this year humanitarian organizations have reached 201,000 people in the State with food assistance, WASH, health and other humanitarian interventions.
 
***
For more information, please contact: Sofie Karlsson, Head of Communications and Analysis, OCHA Sudan, karlsson2@un.org, Mob: +249 (0)912 174 456

Download the Flash Update here

Related Content

Sudan: Clashes in Wad Madani between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - Flash Update No: 03 (as of 18 December 2023)

View original: https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-areas-immediate-humanitarian-concern-flash-update-no-01-18-december-2023

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Sudan: State of emergency & curfew declared in Wad Madani, Aj Jazirah 15 Dec due to SAF & RSF fighting

UN OCHA Flash Update No: 02 

Dated Saturday, 16 December 2023. Full copy:

Clashes in Wad Medani between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Fighting broke out in the morning of 15 December between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the outskirts of Wad Madani located in Aj Jazirah State 136 km southeast of the capital Khartoum. Airstrikes were reported on 15 and 16 December in the western, northern and eastern parts of Wad Madani and in the vicinity of Alsharfa Barakat village north of the town. Sporadic shootings were heard on 15 and 16 December in various areas in Wad Madani. Clashes remain ongoing. Panic is reportedly growing among the civilians in the town and people have been seen leaving on foot. The situation remains tense and unpredictable.

According to the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), approximately 14,000 - 15,000 people have been displaced from Madani Al Kubra locality. Affected residents have sought refuge in neighborhoods westward of Wad Madani town, as well as other locations in Aj Jazirah, and towards Sennar and Gedaref states. Displacement has also taken place into Gedaref State with the arrival of approximately 1,500 IDPs in Al Fao locality, approximately 3,000 IDPs in Madeinat Al Gedaref and approximately 250 IDPs in Ar Rahad locality.

Shops and markets remain closed since 15 December in Wad Madani. Hantoob bridge in Wad Madani is partially closed by SAF as a security measure.

The local authorities announced a state of emergency and introduced a curfew in Wad Madani (from 1800hrs to 0600hrs) effective 15 December 2023 until further notice.

Wad Madani has served as a hub for humanitarian operations since fighting broke out in April this year between SAF and RSF. Humanitarian organizations have reduced their footprint in Wad Madani due to the security situation. Staff have relocated to neighboring states to be positioned to return to address the increased humanitarian caseload once the situation permits.  A suspension of all humanitarian field missions within and from Aj Jazirah State has been put in place as of 15 December until further notice.

Background

After years of protracted crisis, Sudan plunged into a conflict of alarming scale in mid-April 2023 when fighting between SAF and RSF, broke out initially in the capital Khartoum on April 15, and quickly expanded to other areas across the country. Khartoum has been the site of heavy fighting, while severe violent clashes and heavy bombardments have also been reported in the greater Darfur and Kordofan regions. The hostilities have resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure and facilities, including water and healthcare, the collapse of banking and financial services, frequent interruptions to electricity supply and telecommunication services and widespread looting. Since the conflict broke out, humanitarian needs have increased and almost 25 million people now require assistance in Sudan. More than 6.7 million people have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety elsewhere.

An estimated 5.9 million people live in Aj Jazirah State, Sudan’s breadbasket, with 700,000 people living in Wad Madani. More than 270,000 people in the town are in need of humanitarian assistance. Since April 15, nearly 500,000 people fled to Al Jazirah State, 86,400 of those are in Wad Madani. About 1.9 million people are in crisis (IPC 3) and above levels of food security in the state with 179,000 in Madani between October 2023 and February 2024, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). There are 57 humanitarian organizations working in the state, including 25 INGOs, 21 NNGOs and six UN agencies. So far this year humanitarian organizations have reached 730,000 people in the State with food assistance, WASH, health and other humanitarian interventions.
 
***
For more information, please contact: Sofie Karlsson, Head of Communications and Analysis, OCHA Sudan, karlsson2@un.org,
Mob: +249 (0)912 174 456

Download the Flash Update here

View original: https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-clashes-wad-medani-between-sudanese-armed-forces-saf-and-rapid-support-forces-rsf-flash-update-no-02-16-december-2023

UN OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)

To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

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