The drama of Sudanese refugees in South Sudan
Since the start of the conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), more than three million Sudanese have been forced to flee their country. Among them, more than half a million refugees have found refuge in neighboring countries, notably in South Sudan. At the Gorom camp, located near the capital Juba, these refugees live in extremely difficult conditions, with a glaring lack of humanitarian assistance. These material difficulties add to the trauma of the fighting and the anguish for loved ones remaining in Sudan. This is the sad observation that we draw up in this first part of a series of three reports.
Amani Rashid Mohamed, mother, does not hide her concern. She fled Khartoum with her two children, but her son was held by the Sudanese army at a checkpoint before he could cross the South Sudanese border. Forced to continue her journey without him, she goes every day to where there is network to check if she has received a message from him. Her greatest hope is that he is still alive. She fears that her son, a student with no military training, will suffer abuse after being forcibly conscripted into the Sudanese army and sent to fight. Amani Rashid Mohamed calls on human rights organizations for help in finding her son and ensuring his safety.
Abdelaziz Osman Mohamed also fled the town of al-Fasher, in Darfur, on foot. Since then, he has lost all contact with the rest of his family. People fled in different directions when the conflict broke out. Many left for Chad, others like Abdelaziz came to South Sudan. Having no news from his family, he does not know where they are or if they are still alive. The telephone numbers of his relatives cannot be reached. Abdelaziz asked for help from the Red Cross to find one of them and stay informed of their situation.
Selwa, a student from El-Geneina, west Darfur, experienced weeks of anguish without news from her family. Communications were cut in his region just days after the start of the conflict. For two months, she had no contact with her family. The situation was desperate, especially as she heard about a genocide in progress without knowing where her loved ones were and what had happened to them. Eventually, they managed to cross the border and reach her from a refugee camp in Chad. Selwa’s relief at learning that her family was alive was immense, even though their house was burned down by the RSF.
These poignant testimonies show the plight of Sudanese refugees in South Sudan. Their quest for humanitarian assistance and news of their loved ones remains a major challenge. This situation highlights the urgency of international mobilization to provide support to refugees and contribute to the resolution of the conflict in Sudan, so that these families can regain a semblance of stability and security. Their story must not be forgotten, and it is important to amplify the voices of these refugees to draw attention to their precarious situation and hope for a better future for them.