A Catastrophe Unfolds in El Geneina

 

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) is outraged by the escalation of violence in El Geneina, West Darfur. At least 90 people are reported to have been killed and between 10,000 and 20,000 people have fled to Chad, according to UNHCR estimates. 

Earlier this week on Tuesday, militia stormed the city of El Geneina in a large-scale attack by violent gunmen. They were shooting everything that could move and burned homes in various neighborhoods and displacement camps, causing immense death and destruction. An unknown number of people were killed or injured. Camps were burned to the ground, once again forcing already displaced people to flee to Chad. And on Monday, clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces killed at least 25 people and forced thousands to flee to Chad. 

The situation in West Darfur is extremely catastrophic. Water and power stations have been destroyed. Homes, businesses, hospitals and markets have been totally erased. The injured are unable to seek medical care because of the fighting. Bodies lay in the streets because they cannot be buried due to the attacks. 

It has taken clashes between the army and RSF in Khartoum to get the international community to pay attention to Sudan, but it continues to ignore the plight of the people in Darfur. The RSF grew from the Janjaweed militias that have perpetrated the genocide in Darfur, yet that connection is lost upon the international community. With the world watches the situation in Khartoum, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to ending violence and impunity for perpetrators of genocide, the same people plunging the whole country into civil war. As such, DWAG calls for immediate action to assist the people of Darfur. We urgently pressure both sides to stop the fighting and open unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need across Sudan, particularly in Darfur and other crisis-affected areas.  

DWAG calls on the United States, the international community and the UN Security Council to take the following measures:

Sudan is on the brink of civil war and the people of Darfur have been targeted further for death and destruction as a result. If the situation remains unaddressed, the people of Darfur will face the worst humanitarian crises in our lifetime. We call on DWAG’s supporters to join us by echoing our demands and call for immediate humanitarian access, protection, and accountability for all responsible for creating this horrifying situation in Sudan. 

With our collective action, we can make a difference. Thank you for your continued support. 

Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG President 

DWAG team