What is transpiring in Sudan? This is a question that is not being asked nearly enough. According to Operation Broken Silence, this extreme famine has caused more than 26 million civilians to flee their homes or abandon Sudan as a whole.
The Current State of Sudan
Sudan is the third-largest country in Africa, and over half its population is experiencing acute food insecurity. This catastrophe has affected millions in devastating ways, yet the news has failed to headline this on significant news platforms. Other wars have gotten major media attention, like the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, yet the Sudanese are left in the shadows.
This war caused unrest among the soldiers and greatly affected the civilians. According to OCHA, the majority of the people who are being displaced (55%) are confirmed to be children under the age of 18 years old who have experienced human rights violations, trauma, violence, and lack of access to necessities. These statistics demonstrate that children right now are seeing war crimes that will haunt them forever.
Then there’s the soldier’s experience; according to Operation Broken Silence, this civil war broke out in April 2023 between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to Rescue.org, this power struggle has caused more than 15,000 deaths.
History of This Conflict
According to Operation Broken Silence, this war broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) when they overthrew a civilian reform government. Both leaders on each side thought they were the rightful dictators. So, this war essentially broke out because of a power struggle between generals on both sides of the militias. After their dispute, gunfire struck Khartoum on April 15, 2023, and both sides failed to stop each other’s leadership, and now this tragic war continues.
Why It Matters
Mrs. Martinez, a history teacher here at CCHS, answered a few questions on why it’s important to stay updated on world news today. Martinez stated, “Teens are beginning to learn about the world, and it’s important for them to be empathetic to what happens to humans.” Martinez touched on the importance of understanding the gravity of other people’s situations when hearing about these tragic stories.
Martinez emphasized the responsibility of teens to stay connected to the world outside our own bubble. In California, these wars sound like a world away even though we are living on the same planet.
Martinez also said, “The news can be tricky—some outlets dive deep into important issues while others might miss the mark or focus on the wrong things.” Martinez illustrated how the news can be challenging to navigate because some platforms say it all while others don’t say enough.
Staying updated on the news is crucial to knowing what is occurring in our world today. Overall, the Sudanese war is awful and tragic. Humans have to stay updated on these issues, either watching the news or doing your homework and diving deep into a complex war that may be very confusing. So have compassion and empathy for these victims, because we will never know what they are going through.
