‘Unimaginable suffering’ in Sudan: Caritas Australia
International
Caritas Australia has issued urgent pleas for assistance for the escalating civil war and hunger crisis in Sudan and the massive rebuilding effort in Gaza.
Following months of deliberation, the US government has formally declared its belief that the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are committing genocide.
A brutal civil war broke out in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), resulting in the world’s largest ongoing displacement and hunger crises.
Sudan now hosts approximately 11 million internally displaced persons with close to 2.5m people seeking refuge in neighbouring countries such as Chad. More than half of these displaced people are under the age of 18.Caritas partners have been working in North Darfur, Gedaref and the White Nile State since the outbreak of war, providing protection services for those in need as well as water, sanitation, health services and cash assistance.
Major challenges in delivering these projects include relocations due to military action which has interrupted water projects as well as shortages of cash in Sudanese banks for cash assistance and shortages of goods in market to support the material needs of projects.
A cholera outbreak in the country has posed fresh challenges with over 5000 cases in the White Nile project areas alone.
“The sheer scale of the suffering in Sudan is unimaginable,” said Sally Thomas, Humanitarian manager at Caritas Australia.
“The number of displaced people is about half the population of Australia, with children making up the majority.”
A destroyed neighbourhood in Gaza photo credit Caritas Jerusalem
In Gaza, while a ceasefire has offered some hope for civilians, Ms Thomas much of the physical suffering will continue in the coming weeks and months.
“As the threat of bombs and missiles abates, we must turn our attention to preventing further loss of life by providing access to necessities, as well as helping communities rebuild their lives and those of their children,” she said.
“The level of destruction is a catastrophic blow to the people of Gaza, 80 per cent of whom were dependent on aid prior to the conflict.
“This harsh reality means that any sort of return to pre-war normality will be dependent on robust humanitarian aid from the international community”.
To support Caritas Australia’s Sudan and Gaza appeals, visit www.caritas.org.au or call 1800 024 413 toll free.
