Plight of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons arising from the Conflict in Sudan

If the conflict in Sudan escalates it is estimated that 800,000 Sudanese may became refugees as already 75,000 have been internally displaced in Khartoum , state of Blue Nile, North Kordofan and western region of Darfur.The role of the UN is coming under scathing criticism as it had practically no part to play in the evacuation of foreigners fleeing from Sudan and being largely evacuated by the Saudi Navy across the Red Sea from Port Sudan to Saudi King Faisal naval base in Jeddah . The Port of Sudan has converted into a evacuee mustering point as more then 5,000 people of 100 nationalities have been been evacuated on Saudi ships from Port Sudan.

 

Credit Washington Post

The Port Sudan is Sudan’s premier transport hub and port authorities ensure that operations are kept running in a ” business as usual fashion” . A commercial ferry is complementing relief operations across the Red Sea .China’s PLA Navy , Royal Saudi Navy and UK’s Royal Navy are evacuating their nationals. There are acute shortages of food, water, medicine and electricity accompanied by a breakdown of the healthcare structure whereas the UN conveniently plods on in its bureaucratic style.

Russian Naval Base in the Red Sea

 

Credit Eritrea Hub

The genesis of the conflict seems to be the apprehension of Western powers of establishment of a Russian base on the Red Sea an idea to which the Sudanese military seem amenable. Lending credence to concerns voiced by the US is the visibility of Wagner group , a private paramilitary group with links to Russia , guarding gold mines in Sudan. The West encouraged a civilian demand for oversight of the military and integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces and for transfer of lucrative military stakes in agriculture under civilian oversight. Even more disturbing are allegations of war crimes committed by the military and its allies in the conflict in Darfur from 2003 with a demand that the international criminal court try Sudanese suspected of involvement in war crimes.

Credit Saudi Gazette

Israel Sudan Agreement

Red Sea geopolitical complexities are attributable to regional countries interactions with the Sudanese government as in 2020 an Israel-Sudan normalization agreement took place. Not to be outdone U.A.E and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assured an investment of almost $ 3 billion to bolster Khartoum’s military. These Gulf monarchies have heavily invested in Sudan’s fertile agriculture land enabling shipments of agricultural products and livestock across the Red Sea thereby ensuring  food security.

Credit Saudi Gazette

Refugee Rehabilitation

Rehabilitating refugees and Internally Displaced Persons is an uphill and lengthy task provided resources are made available in a timely manner. Instances of past refugee and internally displaced persons issues and rehabilitative health care systems are available online

Author Prof Dr Nazia Mumtaz

Prevalence of stammering among internally displaced population in North Waziristan Agency –  Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

https://www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-26-2020/volume-26-issue-8/prevalence-of-stammering-among-internally-displaced-population-in-north-waziristan-agency.html

Dysfluency among children of internally displaced population,

Mumtaz, N., Khatoon, . M. & Saqulain, . G. (2022) Dysfluency among children of internally displaced population. RMJ, 47 (1), 61-64

Dilemma of Health Rights of Vulnerable Citizens

https://www.jpma.org.pk/article-details/11013 , https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.2078 

International and national perspective of disability and policy disconnect in Pakistan

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.5090 , https://www.jpma.org.pk/article-details/11696