Wishing peace for Sudan- millions displaced

I have been watching what is happening in Sudan and reading about the conflict there. In fact when people talk about Gaza I have often pointed out that in terms of sheer numbers of humans there are several other conflicts that have received very little attention.

Of course it’s the Islam vs The West aspect that makes the Gaza conflict more topical. Israel is a tiny ally in a strategically vital area and fighting Islamic terrorism is a Western priority.

And of course us wringing our hands doesn’t help the desperate humans who have to live in countries at war with themselves or each other. What to do? Western paternalism and interference is going out of style. We rarely help long term. Look at Afghanistan. We just enabled the unsustainable population explosion that is now suffering.

We can’t force democracy and human rights on to different cultures. We’re often struggling to maintain them in our own countries.

It is devastating to hear the few reports that come through from Sudan. Women and children with zero help or protection. No attention. No hope. What can we do though? We can’t turn back time and leave Africa alone.

I can’t conceive of a time when things will get better although Rwanda gives some comfort. They seem to have learnt and have decent governance in place.

I agree.

It's absolute heartbreaking for the people in Sudan and shameful that they aren't getting the support and compassionate response from the rest of the world.

I agree, it's the world's worst humanitarian crisis and you are totally right, the devaluation of human life threatens us all. Years ago I worked in communications and PR in a non profit and I'm always interested why some crisis get "traction" and some just don't. So apologies in advance if my observations sound a little cold, I have my communications hat on here.

I think it's a little bit of racism - pick up on the Rwandan genocide was poor initially. Africans killing other Africans kind of thinking.

But in 2005 there was large movement for the people of Darfur. So people are out there are ready to support the cause:

Another reason is that it's really difficult for journalists to get access to Sudan. Journalists within Sudan have had to flee. And generally internet and media infrastructure is down in many of Sudan's states. So there is a lack of content basically. Stats are all well and good but what really gets compassion is seeing how the conflict has affected a real person. Compelling content is the single most important factor in getting attention

There is no clear "baddie" and the situation is really complex so it's hard for people to get their head around.

There also are not simple answers (and by simple I mean simple to explain rather than simple to implement)

Also people's attention is really fickle. The situation in Sudan deteriorated over a long time and the eyes of the would quickly move on. It's always the case that the attention of the world is only on one crisis at a time. I can nearly list them going backwards - Gaza now, before that Ukraine, Afghanistan in 21, bit of Myanmar in 19 for a while....I'm sure I am forgetting a few but you get my point.

That's my two pence anyway.

Absolutely

I watched a video about The Western Sahara conflict the other day, I don't think I'd ever heard of it before or at least not significantly. Tens of thousands displaced on both sides, previous use of napalm and white phosphorus on refugee camps, a massive wall full of landmines (7 million landmines in the general area). All about politics, resources and sovereignty.

In general we live in bubbles, getting only the information the media decides is important (based on their bias) unless we go and seek it out.

I'm glad of the reminder about Sudan, and the other people at risk too, trying to step outside the bubble and support if I can seems a fair aim for this year.

Yes, I think so. The usual line is about arms sales but British arms sales to Israel are tiny, & people are incurious about where else British arms end up, so the argument doesn't stack up at all!

I thought this thread was about Sudan.

@SharonEllis I do wonder how much unconscious bias there is going on, both with regard to Sudan and Gaza.
I find it difficult to explain otherwise.
Not many want to blatantly admit they are racist/Anti-semitic.

but Sudan lacks the billions in funds Hamas has to churn out their propoganda and keep it relevant.

This is the key bit, above all, and where the other racist element comes in - the antisemitism of Hamas's backers.

@SpunkyCritic it was very revealing of so many of the reasons why different African conflicts & human rights abuses are ignored.

Staggering response.
Of course racism plays a huge part.

How on earth is what is happening in Gaza affecting the standard of living of most of us?
It doesn't, but Sudan lacks the billions in funds Hamas has to churn out their propoganda and keep it relevant.

This is more than just black 'tribal' troubles we can't intervene in. That in itself is completely racist.

Sudan is probably the biggest humanitarian disaster we have known (not my words) and yet who knows what their flag looks like??

Security, jobs and money are the things people require of a government, in the real world.

I'd also love to see arms sales banned to be honest. Produce the weapons yourself if you must but making obscene amounts of money from death and destruction needs to get in the bin.
@NoisyBear

Couldn't agree more. Arms dealing is obscene.
15 years ago I asked my Labour MP about whether we should be proud of living in a country that makes so much money from arms dealing and she told me to try saying that to the workers in Barrow.

Basically, it means jobs and money, so we go with it. Awful.

It would be great to see governments around the world taking these conflicts more seriously and to see aid more evenly split between countries in need rather than the bulk of aid going to one or two countries and the rest getting a pittance in comparison. The scale of suffering in Sudan is unbelievable but politics seems to dictate where aid money goes rather than the level of death and suffering of the people on the ground. I'd love to see more compassionate leaders setting great examples rather than rich, power hungry men playing games.

I'd also love to see arms sales banned to be honest. Produce the weapons yourself if you must but making obscene amounts of money from death and destruction needs to get in the bin.

And Islamic State extending its influence in African countries us not a 'tribal dispute' ffs

But honestly, who are we to intervene in what are effectively tribal, territorial disputes

Breathtaking, 19th century attitude to Africa there.

1 in 5 of the world's consumers will be in Africa in 25 years time. The value of UK exports to Nigeria alone is nearly double that of the value of exports to Israel.

So if its economic issues that affect who you care about, you need to start caring about Africa.

And none of this explains why there are more column inches and media minutes devoted to Israel Palestine than anywhere else, more UN resolutions, more street demonstrations, peritions in far away countries etc etc etc.

Mushmonster wrote
Regarding why Africa is forgotten about, I do think racism may have a weight on it.
I'm not convinced that racism plays much part. I would concede that when inhumanities are happening to "people like us", then we are a little more concerned.
But I am more of the thought that we only really care about what has an effect on us, economically or otherwise politically.
You've hit the nail on the head. Unless it's going to affect our standard of living, we really don't want to know.
We only get news about Europe, US, Canada, China, India, ME because they do have an effect in our economy and so day to day lives.
Exactamente

There are other deeper layers as well. Usually someone, somewhere or other, benefits from the conflict. THE RSF in Sudan move a lot of gold from Sudan through to the UAE and I think the RSF help out Saudi Arabia and UAE in Yemen. Add to that the fact that Dubai is UAE and that Dubai invests a lot in UK. So if we start looking too closely, we'll see that some of our "business mates" are really quite unpleasant. And please don't let's mention Chinese human rights or the price of toasters and kettle will go up.

But honestly, who are we to intervene in what are effectively tribal, territorial disputes ? Just don't arm or encourage them and possibly offer mediation. Who knows?

Or try to run the world on co-operation rather than competition?

Thank you. I agree it has been neglected.

The sexual exploitation & paedolphilia is men (& money) all over the world. The majority of child rapists in this country are white but its a global trade & its often complicated by cultural factors. The reasons we care about some parts of the world & not others are hard to disentangle sometimes. But when you think of the horrors around the world it does show how disproportionate the focus on Israel & Palestine is in terms of media attention & 'cut through'. I think the lack of understanding of the rest of the world does however explain some of the naivety about this conflict.

Racism, basically.

Why do you suppose that is?

Islamic extremism is a massive problem in North and West Africa. Do you not remember the kidnapping of the Chibok girls? They got some international publicity, but the trafficking of girls into sexual slavery continues with not much being done about it and many of the Chibok girls are still missing. Tragically, and disgracefully human rights abuses in Africa get very little attention.
www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violent-extremism-sahel