What’s Happening in Sudan — and How Can You Help?
In just 72 hours, the world has witnessed the horrific realities of genocide unfolding in Sudan. Since the events of October 26, satellite imagery has revealed blood-stained sands around EL Fasher, sparking global outrage and urgency. The United Nations now labels it a genocide, challenging us: Do we really need official recognition before we start to care?
Sudan faces a record-breaking famine and genocide. Children are hungry, parents are desperate, and entire communities have been cut off from aid. About 375,000 civilians are experiencing catastrophic hunger on the brink of starvation. The red stains visible even on Google Maps are a grim reminder of the scale of violence. For 16 months–486 days, 699,840 minutes–children, women and men in Sudan have gone without aid. The UN is now labelling the situation as “an epicentre of suffering.” We cannot afford indifference. Continued government silence and ongoing arms sales make us complicit in this tragedy. It’s time for us to demand change.
A Massacre in the Making
Conflict erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, formally the Arab militia known as the Janjaweed, is accused of atrocities. This is a power struggle between Sudan’s military and a paramilitary group once aligned with it. The RSF’s refusal to integrate into the national army triggered the split, while foreign arms and money have only deepened the crisis.
In Darfur, the RSF targets non-Arab ethnic groups like the Masalit and Zaghawa, continuing ethnically motivated killings dating back to 2003. What began as a political struggle has turned into genocide rooted in historical marginalisation. Nearly half of Sudan’s 51.7 million people face severe food insecurity, with 8.5 million at emergency levels. Families are starving, hospitals are bombed, and aid workers are being killed in the field.
On October 30th, the UN Security Council convened an emergency session after reports that the RSF stormed El Fasher, killing about 500 people at the Saudi Maternity Hospital: the last functioning medical facility in the city. Footage from the University of El Fasher showed thousands fleeing in terror, and over 70,000 people had been displaced. Women and children face the greatest danger as the RSF continues its campaign of terror across the region.
Global Complicity
The violence in Sudan does not exist in isolation. Sudan’s violence is fueled by outside interests. The US, UK, and UAE have deep political and economic stakes in Sudan’s resources. Nearly half of Sudan’s gold exports come from army-held areas, and in 2024, 97% went to the UAE, $1.52 billion. Meanwhile, the US has authorised $23 billion in arms sales to the UAE, a nation accused of transferring manoeuvres like the Abraham Accords, exposing how global greed and diplomacy often come at the cost of human lives.
The UAE’s involvement is tied to its leadership and institutions, not its people. If citizens worldwide demand accountability and refuse to support complicit systems, governments and corporations will have to act.
Make the Change
The crisis is not hopeless. Your voice truly matters. Here’s how you can make a difference:
Boycott the UAE: Avoid UAE-owned airlines (Emirates, Etihad), gold products, and sports clubs such as Manchester City, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, all tied to UAE investment. Their wealth fuels this conflict.
Raise awareness: Speak. Share information with your friends, family, and communities. Awareness forces media attention and political response.
Use ethical tools: Download Boycat, an app that scans products and identifies companies linked to human rights abuses in Sudan, Palestine and Congo.
Boycott Microsoft: Microsoft has invested over $15 billion in the UAE for AI ventures, indirectly supporting state-backed entities that supply weapons to the RSF. Cancel Microsoft 365 and explore ethical alternatives.
Read and learn: Explore credible sources such as Sudan: A Simple Guide, Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, and conflict mapping projects that document the UAE’s role in arming the RSF.
Contact your representatives: Call or email your senators. Demand humanitarian aid and recognition of the Sudanese genocide. You can say:
“I’m a citizen concerned about the ongoing war in Sudan. I urge you to support humanitarian aid and official recognition of genocide. Please join Senators Risch, Shaheen, Fetterman, Durbin, and Van Hollen in pushing for a stronger US policy on Sudan.”
Donate: Support aid groups like the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) and the Sudan Solidarity Collective (SSC), which deliver essential food and medical supplies.
El Fasher has endured a brutal siege for over 500 days. We cannot look away from this genocide simply because we live in safety. Use your privilege to act. Advocate and educate yourself and others. Every call, boycott and conversation adds to the growing demand for justice. Your voice matters—do not remain silent.