Washington, DC Protesters in the US capital have called for international intervention and a significant US role in putting an end to the conflict in Sudan, where hostilities between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army (SAF) began a year ago.
Gathering at Freedom Plaza on Monday, protestors—some holding signs that read “Sudan Can’t Wait!” and “Keep Eyes on Sudan”—claimed that attention had been diverted from the horrific atrocities occurring in Gaza and Ukraine to the plight of the Sudanese people in that country.
Co-organizer of the event Samah Salman told TRT World, “[We] demand global and US response and President Joe Biden to speak out on Sudan war, which is currently the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.”
Amnesty International, Refugees International, Refugee Congress, US-Educated Sudanese Association [USESA], and other organizations organized the “United For Sudan” rally in concert.
Salman, the chairman of USESA, called it one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in history and urged Biden to take up the cause.
“[We are] Demanding an end to the war, emergency humanitarian response and funding of the humanitarian appeal.”
Speaking during the demonstration, US Congressman Jim McGovern attacked the Sudanese government and the paramilitary RSF, declaring that “they [SAF and RSF] must be sanctioned.”
“If the United States wants to be effective, it must get the aid inside Sudan as well as the refugees outside the country,” McGovern stated.
“We have two opposing factions that show absolutely no consideration for citizens. An unidentified protestor told TRT World, “We need immediate actions, immediate aid, and make sure RSF and SAF don’t block it.”
General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo is in charge of the RSF, while General Abdel Fattah Burhan leads the SAF. Both of them spearheaded a military takeover in 2021 that overthrew Abdalla Hamdok’s internationally recognized civilian government.
Since the conflict started on April 15 of last year, over 8.4 million people have left their homes, with almost 1.8 million of them leaving the nation, according to Doctors Without Borders, or MSF.
About 15,000 people are thought to have died as a result of the violence so far, and the UN said last week that thousands more are leaving the nation every day.
Aid organizations claim that despite the statistics, the international reaction was incredibly inadequate, funding only 5% of the required humanitarian plan.
Bringing the crisis to light
The goal of the march, according to American-Sudanese teacher Sarah Zeinelabdin on TRT World, is to increase public awareness of the Sudanese situation, which is frequently disregarded on the global scene.
Zeinelabdin, who traveled from Georgia to the capital for the demonstration, drove nine hours to deliver her address. “Unfortunately, the war is still going, and the international community’s response is nothing like it is in other places,” she told TRT World.
“We are here to draw attention to the war and to particularly talk to the politicians in the White House and let them know that we are taxpayers and we are Americans as well as Sudanese, and we are demanding their support to stop the war,” she said.
The same message was reinforced by Jasmine, an African-American attendee who preferred to be addressed only by her first name: “Peace should be brought to the Sudanese people.”
“Our goal is to bring peace to Sudan and draw the attention of President Joe Biden and other influential individuals in the US,” Jasmine stated, stressing that Biden possesses the authority to end the conflict in Sudan.
Since last year, there have been several ups and downs in the SAF and RSF fighting in Sudan.
There have been numerous rounds of negotiations, largely facilitated by the US and Saudi Arabia, but none have resulted in a halt to hostilities.
UN head Antonio Guterres stated on Monday that random assaults in Sudan that are “killing, injuring and terrorizing civilians” may qualify as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
“The main problem is clear: there are two generals that have opted for a military solution and they have until now, obstructed all serious efforts of mediation,” Guterres told the press.
Additionally on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared in Paris that international donors have committed more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian help for Sudan. He gave a speech at the conclusion of a worldwide gathering in the French capital intended to rally solidarity for the 51 million people living in Sudan.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
