Week 2
On Monday, I was finally able to meet everyone on the team. I sat in on the weekly update meeting, and it provided some insight as to the different projects/problem areas that the team was working on. Afterwards, I continued doing my own research into the situation in Sudan, focusing largely on the causes and history of conflict in the country.
For some background, the current conflict in Sudan is largely a continuation of the cycle of violence from the early 2000s. Many of the parties currently involved in the conflict participated in the previous cycle of atrocity. Prior to April, 2023, Sudan had a history of ethnic strife, genocide, and authoritarianism. The early 2000s were characterized by the Darfur genocide and a war that resulted in a period of significant political and economic instability. That instability was followed by several military coups, and the tensions that existed back then haven’t dissipated.
The humanitarian situation is dire. According to the United Nations, as of April, 2024, approximately 17.7 million people face acute hunger. SAF and RSF fighting has expanded into agricultural regions, resulting in the destruction of farmland and decreased crop yield. The price of food in Sudan has increased by 73% in the past year and 350% over the past five years, and humanitarian aid efforts have been stunted as a result of the conflict. Over 9 million individuals have been forcefully displaced. The continued expansion of fighting into residential areas will further displace civilians, and the continued destruction of farmland will risk creating the world’s largest hunger crisis.
As a supplement to this research, I was able to sit down and take notes on a meeting between U.S. government officials and the Prevention and Protection Working Group (a coalition of various human rights and humanitarian aid groups). Although I’m not permitted to discuss specifics, I can say that it was insightful to hear from individuals that are actually on the ground and witnessing the crisis. A lot of what was discussed confirmed reports about the current status of Sudan and its humanitarian crises. The situation is concerning, and it’s important that we don’t forget about the Sudanese civilians who are suffering through the fighting.