In Sudan, No One Doubts That This Is Genocide : Shared by Tony Lake

Dear Friends and Friends who are also Relatives,

I am writing again about the war in Sudan, which grinds on, largely off-camera, with its attendant, horrific human suffering. I attach a recent column by Nicholas Kristof on the
carnage. His is a strong but almost singular voice calling attention to the Sudanese catastrophe.

He refers to the heroic, grass roots efforts of the mostly young Sudanese, often women, who are running the Emergency Response Rooms that offer local help to the suffering: food, medical care, spaces where young children can be children. These are the people for whom I asked your support in my last message, through the Mutual Aid Sudan organization. I attach also that message.

Their work has not gone completely unnoticed. They have just won the Rafto prize for their work, awarded by a Norwegian human rights organization. Previous laureates of this prize included Aung San Suu Kyi, Jose Ramos-Horta, Kim Dae-Jung and Shirin Ebadi, who went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s a big deal.

This is great. But they need more than this recognition; they desperately need our help, especially after losing their support from AID.

Even if your help is modest, I hope you will make another, or first, tax deductible contribution to the Emergency Response Rooms, through a reputable pass-through organization with a very low overhead: Proximity 2 Humanity. Link here - https://www.proximity2humanity.org/donate.

Please note it is for Sudan in the comment box.

What may seem modest to us will mean much more to them, as so many Sudanese struggle simply to survive. A dollar difference on a restaurant bill here may be unnoticed. But to a Sudanese suffering from hunger, it will mean so much more.

And, of course, in the case of your contribution, modesty is not necessarily a virtue!

Thank you so much.

Tony

In Sudan, No One Doubts That This Is Genocide

Nicholas Kristof
The New York Times
Click here for the article

Summary
This opinion piece argues that while debate rages about whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, there is near-universal agreement that genocide is occurring in Sudan — yet it remains largely ignored. The article notes that both the Biden and Trump administrations have officially recognized the atrocities in Sudan as genocide, but neither has taken meaningful action, with Trump even cutting assistance. The humanitarian toll is staggering, with famine declared, 25 million people facing extreme hunger, and over 400,000 estimated dead. Survivors recount horrific massacres and sexual violence reminiscent of Darfur two decades ago. Outside powers, especially the United Arab Emirates, are accused of fueling the violence by arming the Rapid Support Forces. The author calls on the U.S. and international community to use their leverage — especially against the UAE — and to support Sudanese grassroots relief, warning that the besieged city of El Fasher may soon face mass killings and rapes if no action is taken.

Quotes

“It is ‘a Gaza — which is horrible enough — writ still larger,’ said Anthony Lake, who was national security adviser to President Bill Clinton and later led UNICEF. ‘And largely off camera.’”


“We’re being blocked from reaching the hungry — and attacked for trying,” said Cindy McCain, the executive director of the U.N. World Food Program.


“‘We know they can help,’ the civilian continued. ‘We know they have the power to airdrop food. They have planes. They have supplies. But they are choosing not to.’”