Sudan’s uprooted millions pay price for yearlong war

Sudanese refugees at a health center in the Koufroun refugee camp. Sudan’s war erupted in 2023, over a planned political transition under which the army and the RSF were competing to protect their interests. (AFP/Reuters)
Sudanese refugees at a health center in the Koufroun refugee camp. Sudan’s war erupted in 2023, over a planned political transition under which the army and the RSF were competing to protect their interests. (AFP/Reuters)
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Updated 14 April 2024
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Sudan’s uprooted millions pay price for yearlong war

Sudan’s uprooted millions pay price for yearlong war
  • Clashes have driven more than 8.5m people from their homes, creating a major displacement crisis

CAIRO: After fleeing from the war in Sudan to Egypt, Mohamed Ismail says his ambitions are limited to putting food in the mouths of his five children from a meager monthly salary of about $100 earned at a paper factory in Giza.

One 7-year-old son sleeps in his arms because of the trauma of hearing explosions before they fled from the outskirts of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, in January.
A year of war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, also known as RSF, has driven more than 8.5 million people from their homes, creating the world’s largest displacement crisis and uprooting families multiple times as people struggle to escape to neighboring countries with economic and security problems of their own. Financial challenges have led some to return to the war-stricken capital.
“Being safe somewhere is the most important thing,” said Ismail, 42. “We’re not even thinking about education because the economic situation doesn’t allow that. As a parent that really impacts you, but we are helpless.”
Sudan’s war erupted on April 15, 2023, over a planned political transition under which the army, led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, were competing to protect their interests.
Fighting tore through the capital and unleashed waves of ethnically driven violence in the western region of Darfur, before spreading to other areas including Gezira state, an important farming region that became an aid hub where many had sought refuge.
When the RSF entered the state’s main city Wad Madani in December, looting and occupying neighborhoods as they had done in the capital, many were uprooted for a second time.
Ahmed, 50, who had fled with his wife and four children from the capital when the war began, said RSF troops pulled them from a car as they tried to escape Wad Madani in order to seize the vehicle.
They headed east to Al-Gedaref, where his 75-year-old mother-in-law died after the arduous, three-day journey. They then paid smugglers to go to Egypt, which suspended visa-free entry for women, children, and men over 50, as Sudanese poured across the border last year.
“Because of Al-Burhan and Hemedti, our lives were completely shattered. We lost everything we owned,” said Ahmed, speaking by phone from Cairo. He asked to be identified by his first name to avoid problems with Egyptian authorities.
Within Sudan, more than 3 million were already homeless from previous conflicts before the current war, mostly in Darfur, where the RSF and its allies have been accused of widespread abuses in violence over the past 12 months that they have blamed on their rivals.
Though parts of the country, Africa’s third largest by area, remain relatively unscathed, many displaced rely on charity as conditions worsen and nearly 5 million people face extreme hunger.
Sudan’s health system has collapsed, allowing outbreaks of diseases including measles and cholera. Aid agencies say the army restricts access for humanitarian relief, and what little gets through is at risk of looting in RSF-controlled areas.
Both sides have denied impeding aid efforts. But on the ground, volunteer-run “emergency rooms” linked to the pro-democracy networks from the uprising that toppled former leader Omar Bashir in 2019, have been left to provide minimal food rations and keep some basic services running.

Ismail Kharif, a 37-year-old farmer living in a camp for displaced people near El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, said people there were at risk from fighting and subject to reprisals by both sides if they tried to move, while being cut off from health care, regular food supplies, and phone networks.

Across the country in Port Sudan, tens of thousands have sought shelter under army control but wonder what lies ahead.

“You cannot imagine that one day you will be living like this,” said Mashaer Ali, a 45-year-old mother of three from the capital, living in a displacement center in the Red Sea city. “Is this reality?” she said. “It’s very, very difficult.”

The war has created “one of the worst displacement and humanitarian crises in the world, and one of the most neglected and ignored almost, although its implications, its repercussions and the suffering of the people are quite extraordinary,” Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said in an interview.

 


Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues

Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues
Updated 6 sec ago
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Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues

Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues
ISLAMABAD: Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday at his office in Islamabad to discuss the situation in Gaza and a range of bilateral issues.
They will sign several agreements for boosting trade and economic ties between the nations, officials said.
Erdogan left his hotel amid tight security, and was welcomed by people in traditional Turkish and Pakistani dresses who lined a key city road that had been decorated with Turkish and Pakistani flags. The crowds danced to the beat of drums as the Turkish leader’s convoy passed through the streets.
Erdogan and his wife, Emine Erdogan, were welcomed by Sharif on their arrival at his office. A band played the national anthems of both countries before a ceremony that saw the leaders inspecting a guard of honor.
Erdogan will jointly chair bilateral strategic cooperation talks and the two sides are expected to sign a number of agreements, according to a government announcement.

Hamas says it does not want Gaza ceasefire to collapse

Hamas says it does not want Gaza ceasefire to collapse
Updated 28 min 3 sec ago
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Hamas says it does not want Gaza ceasefire to collapse

Hamas says it does not want Gaza ceasefire to collapse
  • Hamas suspends handover of Israeli hostages over what it said were Israeli violations of the terms
  • Israel has called up military reservists to brace for a possible re-eruption of war in Gaza

CAIRO/DUBAI: Hamas does not want the Gaza ceasefire agreement to collapse, the Palestinian militant group said on Thursday, ahead of a Saturday deadline for it to release more Israeli hostages.

Hamas agreed under the deal to free three more hostages on Saturday but said this week that it was suspending the handover over what it said were Israeli violations of the terms.

US President Donald Trump responded by saying all hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday or he would “let hell break out.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would resume “intense fighting” if Hamas did not meet the deadline.

“We are not interested in the collapse of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, and we are keen on its implementation and ensuring that the occupation (Israel) adheres to it fully,” Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said.

“The language of threats and intimidation used by Trump and Netanyahu does not serve the implementation of the ceasefire agreement,” Qanoua said.

A Hamas delegation led by the group’s Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, met Egyptian security officials on Wednesday to try to break the impasse. A Palestinian official close to the talks told Reuters that mediators Egypt and Qatar were trying to find solutions to prevent a slide back into fighting.

In a statement, Hamas said the mediators were exerting pressure for the ceasefire deal to be fully implemented, ensure Israel abides by a humanitarian protocol and resume exchanges of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel on Saturday.

Israel has called up military reservists to brace for a possible re-eruption of war in Gaza if Hamas fails to meet a Saturday deadline to free further Israeli hostages.


Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official

Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official
Updated 33 min 48 sec ago
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Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official

Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official

DUBAI: Governments need to invest in digital resilience infrastructure not for today but for the future, Deputy Director General for UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority Mohammed Al-Zarooni has said.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit on Thursday, Al-Zarooni referenced how countries responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and said countries that invested in digital infrastructure were able to adapt quickly.

“The UAE had sufficient infrastructure in 2020 to accommodate its school and university students on digital platforms and continue providing them with education,” he added.

Salman Al-Khalifa, National Cyber Security Centre of Bahrain CEO, said trust in digital systems and in governance was important.

“We need to have the utmost trust in these systems, without trust we can’t use them. Ensuring that there is resilience in our systems will contribute to overall efficiency,” he said.

On Tuesday, summit chairman and UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Al-Gergawi said building strong relationships between governments and people was important. “Trust in government (worldwide) stands only at 52 percent,” he said, quoting findings from the Edelman Trust Barometer.

Al-Khalifa discussed his concerns over rapid growth in the artificial intelligence sector and said it was vital governments were prepared.

“AI helps hackers get a hold of information. AI creates an easier way for people to steal information, we need to be prepared,” he explained.

Al-Zarooni emphasized the importance of cybersecurity awareness and said those who did not know the risks would be most susceptible to cybercrime.

“These risks are borderless, they are spread out, without having digital cooperation we can’t achieve full digital resilience. Cybersecurity is not a one-country problem, but a world problem” he concluded.


UAE health minister highlights technology role in future care at World Governments Summit

UAE health minister highlights technology role in future care at World Governments Summit
Updated 29 min 59 sec ago
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UAE health minister highlights technology role in future care at World Governments Summit

UAE health minister highlights technology role in future care at World Governments Summit
  • Patient-centered care is the goal, says Abdulrahman Al Owais
  • New tech is helping with early diagnosis, minimal interventions

DUBAI: The healthcare system will be more accessible, innovative and resilient in future by harnessing newly emerging technologies, according to the UAE’s Health and Prevention Minister Abdulrahman Al Owais, who was speaking at the World Governments Summit here on Thursday.

“Technology and innovation will play a crucial role in reshaping healthcare to meet the needs and expectations of our communities,” Al Owais said at the opening of the summit’s Global Health Forum.

In his speech, Al Owais said: “The last couple of years have seen groundbreaking advancement and innovation that have changed the face of many sectors, and healthcare is no exception.

“The potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, telehealth, and precision medicine has enhanced early detection, diagnosis, and minimally invasive interventions.”

The minister acknowledged the significance of integrating traditional medicine with modern scientific advancements.

“The rise of technology has placed integrated medicine at the leading edge of healthcare innovation by seamlessly blending the time-honored practice of our heritage with the possibilities of modern science in a world where chronic diseases are on the rise.”

Al Owais reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to leveraging these advancements, citing the nation’s “forward-thinking leadership, robust infrastructure, and strategic investments in healthcare technology.”

He highlighted the UAE Vision 2031 plan, which mandates the adoption of advanced technology across all hospitals, as a testament to the country’s proactive approach to fostering a high-tech, patient-centered healthcare ecosystem.

Beyond technological investments, the minister emphasized the importance of partnerships, both at the national and international levels.

He said collaborations between government and the private sector, along with global alliances, were vital to strengthening emergency preparedness, enhancing supply chains, and promoting knowledge exchange.

Closing his address, Al Owais echoed the words of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who believes that technology should serve as a bridge to progress, security, and stability for all.

“Let us challenge ourselves to think boldly and act with urgency to create a world where healthcare is not just advanced, but also deeply human,” he said.


‘Progress’ in push to salvage Israel-Hamas truce: Palestinian sources

‘Progress’ in push to salvage Israel-Hamas truce: Palestinian sources
Updated 54 min 38 sec ago
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‘Progress’ in push to salvage Israel-Hamas truce: Palestinian sources

‘Progress’ in push to salvage Israel-Hamas truce: Palestinian sources
  • The hints of progress came as mediators Qatar and Egypt pushed to salvage the ceasefire agreement that came into effect last month, while Hamas said its top negotiator was in Cairo

JERUSALEM: Palestinian sources reported progress on Thursday in efforts to salvage the ceasefire in Gaza from its worst crisis yet, with a view to ensuring that Hamas releases Israeli hostages this weekend as planned.
The truce that has largely halted fighting in the Israel-Hamas war was plunged into uncertainty after the militant group said it would not release hostages on Saturday, citing Israeli violations.
Israel hit back, saying that if Hamas failed to free captives on schedule, it would resume its war in Gaza.
“There is progress,” one source told AFP, adding that mediators had obtained from Israel a “promise... to put in place a humanitarian protocol starting from this morning.”
“Hamas has confirmed to Egyptian officials its commitment... to conducting the sixth exchange of prisoners on time, on Saturday, as soon as Israel honors its commitment,” another source said.
US President Donald Trump had warned that “hell” would break loose if the Palestinian militant group failed to release “all” the hostages by then.
If fighting resumes, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “the new Gaza war... will not end without the defeat of Hamas and the release of all the hostages.”
“It will also allow the realization of US President Trump’s vision for Gaza,” he added.
Trump sparked global outcry with a proposal for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and to move its 2.4 million residents to Egypt or Jordan.

The hints of progress came as mediators Qatar and Egypt pushed to salvage the ceasefire agreement that came into effect last month, while Hamas said its top negotiator was in Cairo.
The truce, currently in its first phase, has seen Israeli captives released in small groups in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody.
The warring sides, which have yet to agree on the next phases of the truce, have traded accusations of violations, spurring concern that the violence could resume.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged Hamas to proceed with the planned release and “avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza.”
Israel has repeatedly vowed to defeat Hamas and free all the hostages since the Palestinian group’s October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war.
Analyst Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group told AFP that despite their public disputes, the warring sides were still interested in maintaining the truce and have not “given up on anything yet.”
“They’re just playing power games,” she said.

In Tel Aviv, Israeli student Mali Abramovitch, 28, said that it was “terrible to think” that the next group of hostages would not be released “because Israel allegedly violated the conditions, which is nonsense.”
“We can’t let them (Hamas) play with us like this... It’s simply not acceptable.”
Last week’s hostage release sparked anger in Israel and beyond after Hamas paraded three emaciated hostages before a crowd and forced them to speak. Hamas, meanwhile, has accused Israel of failing to meet its aid commitments under the agreement.
In southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis, 48-year-old Saleh Awad told AFP he felt “anxiety and fear,” saying that “Israel is seeking any pretext to reignite the war... and displace” the territory’s inhabitants.
Hamas has insisted it remains “committed to the ceasefire,” and said its chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya was in Cairo on Wednesday for meetings and to monitor “the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.”
Egypt’s state-linked Al-Qahera News, citing an Egyptian official, said that mediators in Cairo and Doha were “intensifying their diplomatic efforts in an attempt to save the Gaza ceasefire agreement.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has facilitated the hostage-prisoner swaps, urged the parties to maintain the truce.
“Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it,” including “all of the remaining hostages” and Gazans who “need respite from violence and access to life-saving humanitarian aid,” the ICRC said.

Trump’s proposal for Gaza and for moving its more than two million residents to Jordan or Egypt would, according to experts, violate international law, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it “revolutionary.”
Hamas called for worldwide “solidarity marches” over the weekend to denounce “the plans to displace our Palestinian people from their land.”
Defense Minister Katz last week ordered the Israeli army to prepare for “voluntary” departures from Gaza. The military said it had already begun reinforcing its troops around Gaza.
Trump reaffirmed his Saturday deadline for the hostage release while hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday.
In a phone call Wednesday, Abdullah and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said they were united in supporting the “full implementation” of the ceasefire, “the continued release of hostages and prisoners, and facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid,” according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
Militants also took 251 hostages, of whom 73 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,222 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.