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Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025
Outside the box.
Ongoing Conflict in Sudan Leaves Families in Despair
Communication disruptions highlight the plight of families affected by violence in Darfur.
Musab Hassan longs for news from his family in Sudan amid ongoing conflict.
A member of the Zaghawa ethnic group, he has survived past genocidal acts in Darfur, as recognized by the International Criminal Court.
Now residing safely in Sydney, he is plagued with worry for his relatives who remain in the Zamzam refugee camp, North Darfur.
Recent escalations in violence have severely disrupted both internet and telephone services, complicating communication.
Hassan reports that during brief conversations, his family shares harrowing news of fatalities and injuries among their peers.
"They immediately tell you that X and Y from the family got killed today or injured today or kidnapped today or even raped today," he stated.
The Zamzam camp, currently housing approximately 1.5 million displaced persons, has been targeted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the ongoing conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces.
This violence has heightened significantly over the past two weeks and has escalated since the RSF's control expanded across the Darfur region, where attacks are predominantly focused on the local Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa groups.
The U.S. State Department classified these acts as genocide in January 2025. Families that sought refuge in Zamzam from violence have since been threatened once again.
In August, the United Nations recorded a famine declaration in the Zamzam camp.
Reports from inside the camp indicate a dire humanitarian situation, worsened by lack of resources and food security.
Musab Hassan maintains contact with relatives within the camp, including Halima Hasan, who described a scene of devastation.
"They burned down the local market and shelters, leaving many wounded and dead.
They kidnapped many children, and we do not know their whereabouts until now," Hasan reported, highlighting the plight of the camp’s inhabitants.
The humanitarian impact has been severe, particularly on vulnerable populations.
Hasan notes that more than 40 children have died from severe malnutrition, exacerbated by the closure of treatment centers.
Musab Hassan has called upon the Australian government to take a firmer stance in addressing the genocide occurring in Darfur.
He emphasized the urgency of the situation by referencing the vulnerability of his elderly relatives: "My 90-year-old grandma and my 90-year-old grandfather, they have no weapon to fight, to cease fire."
In response, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has expressed deep concerns over the conflict, condemning the violence directed at civilians but providing little solace to those affected.
Hassan fears the consequences of inaction, predicting the potential loss of the entire Zaghawa community, estimated at two million individuals in Darfur, if the violence continues unabated.
A member of the Zaghawa ethnic group, he has survived past genocidal acts in Darfur, as recognized by the International Criminal Court.
Now residing safely in Sydney, he is plagued with worry for his relatives who remain in the Zamzam refugee camp, North Darfur.
Recent escalations in violence have severely disrupted both internet and telephone services, complicating communication.
Hassan reports that during brief conversations, his family shares harrowing news of fatalities and injuries among their peers.
"They immediately tell you that X and Y from the family got killed today or injured today or kidnapped today or even raped today," he stated.
The Zamzam camp, currently housing approximately 1.5 million displaced persons, has been targeted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the ongoing conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces.
This violence has heightened significantly over the past two weeks and has escalated since the RSF's control expanded across the Darfur region, where attacks are predominantly focused on the local Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa groups.
The U.S. State Department classified these acts as genocide in January 2025. Families that sought refuge in Zamzam from violence have since been threatened once again.
In August, the United Nations recorded a famine declaration in the Zamzam camp.
Reports from inside the camp indicate a dire humanitarian situation, worsened by lack of resources and food security.
Musab Hassan maintains contact with relatives within the camp, including Halima Hasan, who described a scene of devastation.
"They burned down the local market and shelters, leaving many wounded and dead.
They kidnapped many children, and we do not know their whereabouts until now," Hasan reported, highlighting the plight of the camp’s inhabitants.
The humanitarian impact has been severe, particularly on vulnerable populations.
Hasan notes that more than 40 children have died from severe malnutrition, exacerbated by the closure of treatment centers.
Musab Hassan has called upon the Australian government to take a firmer stance in addressing the genocide occurring in Darfur.
He emphasized the urgency of the situation by referencing the vulnerability of his elderly relatives: "My 90-year-old grandma and my 90-year-old grandfather, they have no weapon to fight, to cease fire."
In response, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has expressed deep concerns over the conflict, condemning the violence directed at civilians but providing little solace to those affected.
Hassan fears the consequences of inaction, predicting the potential loss of the entire Zaghawa community, estimated at two million individuals in Darfur, if the violence continues unabated.
