AYA IBRAHIM

Sudan–Today marks the second anniversary of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. The civil war has displaced more than 12 million, killing tens of thousands of people. Sudan has been the world's largest displacement crisis due to the civil war which has destroyed the country's public infrastructure, including the health system. Recent days, the Sudanese army has retaken control of many regions from the Rapid Support Forces such as the capital, Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, Sennar and Sennar. Other regions have been suffering from the ongoing clashes, especially intensified in North Darfur and El Fasher.

Power outages

The two-year conflict has spread to the Northern state, the safest states hosting millions of displaced people. The Rapid Support Forces have intensified their attacks on the Northern State, using drones, targeting several regions in the state, including Merowe, Dabbah, and Dongola. These attacks resulted in the death of an entire family in Dabbah and power outages in the Northern State after the Merowe Dam was targeted.

‘Women play an active role’

Nidal Osman, a consultant for the Sudan Liberation Movement, told NuJINHA that women played an important role in the movement to “protect themselves”. “Sudanese women sacrifice their lives for the sake of dignity and are subjected to violations by the Rapid Support Forces which target the land, honor, history, and identity of Sudanese people.”

Shaza Awad Bahri, a displaced woman from Khartoum, works as a volunteer to teach young people how to defend themselves. “I have taught 10,000 young women and men how to defend and protect themselves,” she said. “We teach women martial arts so that they become stronger and defend themselves.”

‘We want a new, free and fair country’

Sudan has been suffering from a two-year conflict, said political activist Hanan Abkray. “For two years, our country has been suffering from killing, displacement, forced migration, rape, the destruction of cities and villages, and the collapse of public infrastructure. Sudanese people need psychological support. We want a new, free and fair country without corruption and favoritism.”

Ibtisam Mohammed Ali is one of the displaced women of Khartoum. “Two months after the war, we decided to move to a safer place.” Istisam Mohammed Ali has lived in an IDPs camp with her family. “The IDPs camps are not equipped for housing. They suffer from the lack of basic services, such as water and power. When Khartoum is retaken from the Rapid Support Forces, we want to return our homes and rebuild our life.”