***Disclaimer: This article is opinionated; all of the topics mentioned are discussed in a biased manner. They in no way reflect the opinions of The Quill or Greenport Union Free School District. 

A Humanitarian Catastrophe

Kevin Cocheres-Bumble'26

Genocide, Holocaust, Massacres—all words to describe a group of people who have been victims of mass murder. From the infamous examples, such as the persecution of the Jews in the 1930s-1940s during the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide in the 1990s, the Holodomor in the 1930s, and the Armenian Genocide in the 1910s-1920s. To the modern-day examples, such as the Genocide occurring in Gaza since the war in 2023, and the persecution of the Ukrainian people since the acquisition of Crimea in 2014. There is an immense amount of crimes against humanity that haven’t been widely covered, for example, the conflict in Sudan. 

Although the start of the conflict officially was the 15th of April, 2023, it first arose back in 2019, when the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) joined together to overthrow the current President Omar al-Bashir. After their revolt, the leaders of the two forces, General Burhan and General Hemeti, began to disagree with each other after discussions of integrating the RSF into the National Army. It would all reach its boiling point when they started fighting in the city of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, located in its South-East region. Naturally, they both accused each other of shooting first, and this boiled over into the war. Notably, foreign influences pushed Sudan further into turmoil, like the Russian Wagner Group, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with a few others (according to the Global Conflict Tracker). Since then, it has expanded nationwide, and as of the 28th of October, 2025, the RSF has major control of the South-Western side of the country, along with other Armed Groups. Then the SAF has the Southeastern part of the country, and a strip heading through the middle of the nation, going North. 

Immediately after the war began, the civilian population felt the effects. The city of Khartoum fell into despair, with gunfire replacing birds throughout the streets and explosions taking the place of rain. Hundreds of thousands would be displaced from the city, seeking refuge in other places in Sudan and Africa. That number has spiked to around 12 million, about ⅓ of Sudan’s population, and around 5 million are children, with an additional  4 million seeking asylum (according to the BBC). The Sudanese who either stayed or couldn’t leave have suffered immensely, with starvation running rampant, healthcare being unavailable, and limited shelter. Furthermore, with all of these factors already impacting the Sudanese people, they have also faced disturbing actions against them. In particular, certain groups, like non-arabs have faced horrid treatment, and the mention of genocide has arisen because of this. 

In the first stage, the non-arab citizens, like the Masalit people, are not liked by the RSF. Second, the Masalit are labeled and known by the RSF. Third, discrimination immediately against the Masalit, straight to stage ten, as in the city of El Fasher, in southwest Sudan, up to 150000 people are unaccounted for after the RSF has taken the town. An estimated 60000 casualties were presumed (according to The Guardian). Within 3 weeks, this happened. That means about 119 people an hour, 2857 a day, and 20000 a week. It is pure insanity, with satellite photos showing dozens of bodies in an alleyway, with what appears to be bodily fluids staining the ground around them and shallow graves nearby (according to Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab). Men, women, and children—killed indiscriminately. Sadly, that isn’t the worst of the treatment that Sudanese people have endured; there have been various reports of torture and various forms of violence, and according to UNICEF, with victims as young as one year old. All perpetrated by the RSF as a way to control power and influence these populations. However, the SAF isn’t innocent in this manner either. 

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or the SAF, have been caught committing crimes against humanity. The Sudanese Armed Forces, using their influence, began to block Humanitarian aid throughout the nation by denying access to the nation on claims of sovereignty, obstructing research on the possibility of famine, and refusing visas for humanitarian access. Medical supplies, water, shelter, and food have been taken away from the Sudanese people, and in turn, there have been two famines declared in Sudan (according to the Brookings). The SAF has caused one of them in Kadugli, South Kordofan. Their reasoning for why there’s a blockage of aid is so that they could use starvation tactics (similar to former dictator Assad's starvation policies). This form of war has been outlawed since the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2417 in 2018. However, the U.N. has complied with their demands in fear of being kicked out of Sudan, even though the SAF has no direct control over the crossing by Chad. Sadly, there are even more examples of them committing these crimes. 

The SAF has been caught using chemical warfare against civilians, for which the UN has sanctioned them, and then their horrid bombings of civilian structures: schools, hospitals, markets, and civilian hubs, targeted by a terrorist regime. They're also associated with Islamist militias who have detained and killed ERR activists (who are Emergency Relief Rooms, that help bring essential supplies to the Sudanese). Overall, the SAF and RSF have both committed atrocities against the Sudanese people and deserve to have harsher punishments inflicted on them.

The evidence of these crimes against humanity is abhorrently clear. In the current world, nothing can go unnoticed. The implementation of security cameras and home smart devices like Alexa and Google has made even places that are supposed to be private vulnerable to invasion. Now, considering these and other resources. There is undeniable evidence of the crimes of the two warring factions. For example, the pictures that satellites have taken. Some streets have blocks overtaken by bodies and a dark red color on the ground beside them. These streets that branch from villages to major cities. It is disgusting that these forces can commit such acts with little repercussion. 

There needs to be massive foreign intervention to stop this. Like Ukraine, which receives tons of foreign aid in its conflict against Russia, Nations around the world, especially in Africa, should more thoroughly attempt to assist them. The AU Pact, which is basically an African NATO, should do more to help them. Overall, the world should be more informed about the war in Sudan, which is as devastating and as relevant as the war in Ukraine, but is not nearly as publicized, at least in the US. No less than the signs of genocide going on, Western media covers other conflicts extensively, but not others; in this instance, Sudan continues to be ignored.

In times like these, it is important to keep in mind events such as this. They are human beings being subjected to the worst of treatments, and we must remember how fortunate we truly are that we are not suffering like they are. Hopefully, soon, the SAF and RSF forces will realize they are also human and start acting like one instead of the monsters they are. 

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/power-struggle-sudan 

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/dec/05/rsf-massacres-sudanese-city-el-fasher-slaughterhouse-satellite-images

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjel2nn22z9o

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/sudans-deadly-divide-the-rsf-and-safs-reign-of-terror/

These are the sources that i used throughout the article.