Internet Blackout in Sudan Amidst Clashes Between Army and Rapid Support Forces
Internet connectivity has been shut down in Sudan as clashes continue between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The ongoing fighting has resulted in numerous casualties and displacement of millions of people over the course of 10 months.
RSF Blamed for Internet Blackout
Netblocks, an internet monitoring firm, has confirmed that there is a complete outage of internet connectivity in Sudan. All three major network operators in the country are currently out of service.
The Sudanese foreign ministry has placed the blame on the RSF for this blackout. This further complicates the situation for the millions of locals who are unable to escape the conflict and are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The RSF has not yet publicly denied responsibility for the blackout.
UN Appeals for Humanitarian Aid in Sudan
The United Nations (UN) has made an appeal for $4.1 billion to address the most urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan. The organization highlights the dire situation in the country, with an estimated 25 million people in need of support and protection.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN's Refugee Agency have launched a joint appeal for $2.7 billion to provide aid to 14.7 million people, as well as an additional $1.4 billion to support nearly 2.7 million refugees in neighboring countries.
According to Martin Griffiths, the UN's emergency aid chief, the people of Sudan have lost almost everything due to the conflict. Last year's funding appeal was significantly underfunded.
Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan
The RSF has called for immediate action from regional and international organizations to provide urgent relief, as Sudanese civilians are facing the real possibility of starvation.
Currently, around 18 million people in Sudan are experiencing acute hunger. The fighting has also resulted in damage to civilian infrastructure, such as water supplies, and the majority of health facilities are not functioning in conflict areas.
In addition to the food crisis, there are numerous other challenges highlighted in the UN's funding appeal, including widespread human rights violations, gender-based violence, and the fact that approximately 19 million children are unable to attend school.
Children at Great Risk in Displacement Crisis
The conflict between Sudan's Armed Forces and the RSF has led to the largest displacement crisis in the world. Approximately 4 million children have been forced to flee their homes.
In the North Darfur Zamzam camp for displaced people, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has estimated that at least one child dies every two hours due to malnutrition. The situation for these children is critical and demands immediate attention.
