Fleeing Darfur, Victims of Sudan War Face Hunger Amid Perilous Exodus into Chad
Thousands of Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes as civil war fuelled by rivalry of military powers continue to wreak havoc in the impoverished African nation, Al Jazeera reported yesterday citing the personal story of one victim.
Awatef is one of thousands of Sudanese fleeing the horrors of a renewed conflict in Darfur. A power struggle that erupted in April 2023 between the military and paramilitary forces has plunged the region into chaos. But for many, the battle lines blur into a relentless struggle against a different enemy – hunger.
Millions have been displaced by the fighting, and Darfur now teeters on the brink of famine. The UN estimates nearly 756,000 people face starvation, with millions more grappling with severe food shortages.
Awatef’s village, like countless others, fell victim to the violence. The Masalit tribe, to which she belongs, has been a particular target for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group with a long history of brutality in Darfur.
Her husband vanished during a raid, and two brothers were killed in front of her. Fear and hunger stalked her every step. With no other option, she walked for days to reach Chad, a perilous journey undertaken by countless others.
Across the border, in teeming refugee camps, a new crisis unfolds. The World Food Programme (WFP), overwhelmed by the influx of refugees and strained by a lack of funding, has been forced to cut food rations. This has pushed many families deeper into the clutches of malnutrition, a silent killer especially dangerous for young children.
The arrival of Sudanese Arab refugees fleeing hunger further complicates the situation. Years of violence targeting non-Arab communities have left deep wounds. Local authorities fear these tensions could ignite within Chad’s borders.
Awatef’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of the Darfur conflict. It is a desperate plea for urgent action – to stop the fighting, to deliver lifesaving aid, and to prevent a region already ravaged by war from succumbing to famine.
