Sudanese refugees in Chad scramble to survive
NPR Online NewsSep 01, 2023
The Facts
The UN on Wednesday appealed for $4.1B in aid to Sudan, where a civil war has affected 25M people — more than half of the population. Ten months of conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has severely damaged infrastructure, leaving some 18M hungry.
The "generosity of donors" is now key, said Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. He added less than half of last year's funding request was fulfilled.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite sanctions being implemented on the RSF by countries as rich and powerful as the US, the West has still treated the Sudanese people as insignificant compared to the attention focused on other countries such as Ukraine. If genocide in Sudan is truly occurring, as the US Secretary of State has claimed, why haven't these leaders been pushing the public to support giving the Sudanese just as much humanitarian aid as it has for Eastern Europe?
Pro-establishment narrative
The UN and international organizations have been at the forefront of Sudan's humanitarian mission since the violence began. Just as Sudan began its historic transition to civilian rule in 2019, these opposing factions have chosen to throw their communities into a life of suffering and fear. A significant portion of the local population has been receiving the aid they need, but local security issues and political pushback have hindered the UN from reaching everyone. Despite this, the UN system will continue calling for vital and additional assistance from the global community.
