David Lammy's Heart-wrenching Encounter with Sudanese War Refugees in Chad

During his visit to the Chad-Sudan border, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy witnesses the devastating impact of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, meeting refugees who have endured horrific experiences. He calls for urgent global attention and a coordinated effort to address the humanitarian crisis.

 

Every day, countless families make their way across a parched, dusty path into Chad, escaping the devastating conflict and famine in Sudan. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited the border post at Adré to witness the aftermath of Sudan's civil war, which erupted after tensions between the army and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), escalated.

The stories shared by refugees have left Lammy visibly shaken. "It's some of the most horrific things I've ever heard and seen in my life," he stated, highlighting the overwhelming sight of women and children fleeing violence and horrific atrocities. Many of those who cross the border are desperately searching for relatives they became separated from during their escape.

Among the crowd, 28-year-old Halima Abdalla expressed a mixture of relief and sorrow, having lost one child in her flight from Darfur, an area ravaged by severe violence in the past 21 months. "I first went to el-Geneina, but I had to run again when fighting broke out," she recounted.

Aid workers at the border are tasked with reuniting families torn apart by chaos, with some mothers forced to make harrowing decisions about which children to take with them. Children who are left orphaned are taken in by humanitarian workers while efforts continue to locate their families.

Standing in Adré, Lammy spoke with refugees and aid workers alike, capturing the harrowing tales of trauma—violence, murder, and sexual assault. He was particularly moved by the story of a woman who had suffered burn injuries at the hands of soldiers. The ongoing violence compels him to challenge the international community to be more aware of this dire situation.

He criticized what he referred to as a "hierarchy of conflict," suggesting that Sudan’s crisis has been largely ignored despite being the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

As a proponent of peace, Lammy revealed plans to convene a meeting in London involving Sudan's neighboring countries and international allies. This comes after previous attempts at peace talks mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia repeatedly failed.

Since the violence escalated in April 2023, more than 12 million individuals have fled their homes in Sudan. The humanitarian needs are staggering; nearly half of the 50 million civilians still trapped in the conflict zone require urgent assistance, according to UN reports.

With alarming malnutrition rates, children like six-month-old Rasma Ibrahim are at severe risk, as health workers continue to assess the dire impact of the ongoing crisis. Lammy emphasized the need for increased humanitarian aid, noting that the UK has doubled its assistance to £200 million, but more resources are urgently needed as other international funding sources face cuts.

The population of Adré has surged exponentially as refugees arrive, with local volunteers noting a jump from approximately 40,000 residents to over 200,000. As Lammy witnessed aid distribution in Adré, it became clear that even the supplies provided are miniscule against the immense need.

As he departed from the border, lammy called for immediate action, urging the world to wake up to the magnitude of this ongoing crisis. "We have to step up and wake up now to this huge, huge crisis," he urged, echoing the sentiments of countless individuals trapped in the conflict.