Of Climate and Communities - To Peace, with Sudan

Last week we saw one of the biggest global events happening in the sustainability space - the Climate Week in New York City. As a professional working in the space I am enthralled and excited, but as a ‘citizen of the world’ the inequality and solemn parallels can be too difficult to digest.

I cannot stop thinking about the soaring unequal world we live in. In Sudan, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to over 5,000 deaths since April 2023 and displaced nearly 11 million people. The violence has caused the near-total collapse of public services and severely limited access to food, water, and healthcare. A famine was declared in parts of Darfur, affecting millions. The crisis has overwhelmed neighbouring countries, where millions of refugees have fled. Diseases like cholera have also surged due to poor sanitation and water scarcity. In Lebanon, recent escalations in violence, particularly in the southern region and along the border with Israel, have further destabilised the country. Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah have resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and displaced 500,000 people. Lebanon’s existing economic crisis has deepened, and humanitarian organisations are struggling to provide aid to the displaced population, exacerbating poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity. Even after over a year, the struggle in Gaza continues. The region has seen intense violence, with thousands of civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure due to clashes between Israel and Palestinian factions. Over 41,000 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The blockade on Gaza has restricted the flow of humanitarian aid, leaving millions without basic services such as electricity, clean water, and healthcare. The population is facing severe food shortages, and hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and lacking essential medical supplies.?

From the perspective of someone working in the climate space and in the times we live in - optimism is key and the hope of making the world a better place can be the only way forward. But what is climate action or sustainability without basic human safety? What stewardship are we working towards without basic climate justice? Who are we making the world better for - when people are destroying other people? Nature will survive without human life, it is us who need nature to sustain. It is us who need each other to sustain.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended against any individual, community, region or country. These views are purely personal and linked to the larger picture of the world that is evolving and we all are going to be a part of. If you disagree on anything, please feel free to give your perspective in the comments or in my inbox.

War is not created by people, it is always more political. Politics has agendas we cannot see, cannot comprehend and cannot relate to. At the end of the day, every single person on the planet is just trying to go around his or her own life, minding his or her own business. No one is expecting a sudden gunshot or bombing, or even a road-rage accident. No person is planning anything evil unless it is linked to something bigger and darker that you and I cannot see, and that is the privilege and security we share but a lot others do not. As I write in my pyjamas, in my own home, in a country which has fought hard for its freedom and tries to free itself from any that come its way, where are democratic and have a freedom of speech, thought and opinion - it is almost hypocritic for me to say that it is peace that comes naturally to humans, not war.?

In this article, in whatever way possible I want to explore the human angle of things, on how we can educate ourselves and empower those in need, in the capacity that we can. I am also aiming to focus on the resilience humans have in them, and how it is a superpower to not succumb and even try to rise through such drastic circumstances.

So far, I have written two articles on Africa. One through the lens of G20, and the other on Congo and Resilience, but the situation in Sudan is way more peculiar. The warring parties are not ready for a ceasefire and to put things into perspective (while not drawing a comparison or belittle anyone else’s struggles) the war has had a 5x impact as compared to current other war-stricken zones. Multiple mediations, peace talks, and negotiations have failed and the region of Darfur remains under severe conflict and crisis. The power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into a large-scale conflict in April 2023 and has been driving humanitarian needs in the country ever since. Conservative estimates say the conflict has killed at least 15,500 people, while some estimates are as high as 150,000, and counting. Before the conflict, Sudan was already experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis. Long-term political instability and economic pressures meant that? 15.8 million people were in need of humanitarian aid. The conflict has only exacerbated these conditions, leaving almost 25 million people — more than half of Sudan’s population — in need. The brutal conflict since April 2023 has forced millions of people to flee their homes, leaving more than 12 million Sudanese people displaced. The vast majority—over 10 million people—remain within Sudan, representing the largest displacement crisis in the world.

Amidst mass displacement and reports of mass killings, humanitarian access has been severely curtailed, making it extremely hard for aid to reach vulnerable communities. The health system in the country has collapsed, along with vital infrastructure for people present and the country has already been facing deep environmental issues such as destruction of agricultural land, deforestation and unpredictable changes in the climate pattern, further reducing access to crop yields as well as to water.

But at the end, people are resilient and the struggle to find peace and to dream of a better life is innate in humans. Several grassroots and community-driven peace organisations have been running in Sudan that focus on humanitarian assistance and environmental sustainability despite the ongoing conflict. These organisations are led by local citizens and aim to support vulnerable populations while addressing the challenges posed by conflict, climate change, and environmental degradation.

A few of these include:

• Sudanese Environment Conservation Society (SECS): SECS is one of Sudan's largest environmental organisations. It focuses on raising awareness about environmental issues, promoting sustainable development, and implementing community-led projects to combat desertification and deforestation. SECS also engages with rural communities to promote sustainable agriculture and reforestation efforts, which are critical for both environmental restoration and food security.
• Nafeer: Founded in response to Sudan’s devastating 2013 floods, Nafeer is a volunteer-led initiative that mobilises community resources for disaster relief. It focuses on humanitarian support, including the provision of food, water, and shelter to communities impacted by natural disasters and conflict. The organisation operates on the principles of solidarity and communal action, providing much-needed relief in crisis zones.
• Sustainable Action Group (SAG): SAG is a local NGO that aims to promote sustainable development by engaging youth and women in environmental preservation, peacebuilding, and education. SAG organises initiatives to clean up local areas, plant trees, and promote sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in conflict-affected regions. Their goal is to foster resilience in communities by linking environmental stewardship with social cohesion.
• Darfur Development and Reconstruction Agency (DDRA): This organisation works in the conflict-affected Darfur region to support displaced people and rebuild communities through sustainable development projects. DDRA engages in peacebuilding, environmental conservation, and livelihoods programs, focusing on restoring agricultural capacity and promoting peace through resource management.
• African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID): UNAMID was established in 2007 as a peacekeeping mission to protect civilians and support peace efforts in Darfur. Though it officially ended in 2020, its legacy continues through local peace initiatives and international monitoring. UNAMID worked on disarmament, peacebuilding, and the resettlement of displaced people. Its departure left a gap that various organisations are trying to fill.
• Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG): DWAG is a Washington D.C.-based international advocacy organisation founded by a Sudanese human rights activist, Niemat Ahmadi. It empowers women and youth from Darfur and other marginalised communities in Sudan to lead peacebuilding efforts. DWAG provides education, trauma healing, and advocacy training for Sudanese women to engage in political and peace processes.
• Sudanese Organization for Research and Development (SORD): SORD works on human rights, peacebuilding, and the empowerment of women in Sudan. This organisation has played a role in facilitating dialogues between different ethnic and political groups, particularly focusing on conflict resolution in Darfur and other regions affected by long-term violence.
• Fur Cultural Revival (FCR): FCR is a local initiative that promotes peace through cultural understanding among the various ethnic groups in Darfur. The organisation uses traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, such as dialogue circles and reconciliation rituals, to build trust and foster long-term peace in Darfur’s conflict zones.
• Concordis International: Concordis International is a UK-based peacebuilding organisation that has been active in Sudan, including Darfur, since 2003. It focuses on conflict resolution, mediation, and capacity-building initiatives for local leaders and civil society organisations. Concordis works to bring together warring groups for dialogue and helps communities develop mechanisms to manage natural resources peacefully, which is a major driver of conflict in Darfur.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Although primarily focused on humanitarian aid, the ICRC also engages in peacebuilding by providing neutral mediation services and facilitating negotiations between warring factions. In Sudan, particularly Darfur, the ICRC plays a crucial role in helping conflict-affected communities rebuild livelihoods and access basic needs like food, water, and medical care.
• Search for Common Ground (SFCG): Search for Common Ground is an international NGO that specialises in conflict transformation and peacebuilding. In Sudan, it focuses on promoting dialogue between conflicting parties, particularly in Darfur, where ethnic tensions and resource conflicts have been at the core of violence. SFCG uses media, including radio and television, to encourage peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among communities.
• Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO): SUDO is a local NGO working across Sudan, including Darfur, to support human rights, peacebuilding, and development. It facilitates peace dialogues and reconciliation processes at the grassroots level, focusing on creating peaceful communities by addressing grievances related to resource management and land ownership—key drivers of conflict in the region.

As I went through the repercussions and the discussions of the Climate Week in NYC, and read about everything in the news yesterday and today, it is almost heartbreaking to see how divided the world is every single time when we talk about a united world.?

The debate between the East and the West, the privileged and the sidelined, the one with power, authority and money and the one who needs support and change - these debates are old and repetitive, so are these discussions. Change is happening but for who, where and how. How can you and I help, maybe we cannot.?

But talking about something that does not get as much as traction as it deserves, empowering a discussion is also action, so is facilitating help, eventually evolving into some sort of impact.

To talk about a sustainable world, we have to be a united world first. To put up a strong front, we need to have a solid foundation. You and I might not be able to understand the plight of the people in conflict stricken zones at all - but maybe we can try to be a little bit more empathetic and grateful at the same time for all that you have.

This might be my seventh article on humanitarian aid and conflict, and I might cover other war-stricken zones but more resilient and optimistic people in the upcoming editions.

Thank you for reading, here’s to hoping for a better world for all.

For further reading:

https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-sudan-what-happening-and-how-help

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/09/war-sudan-intensifying-coordinated-pressure-needed-prevent-countrys-fragmentation?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw0t63BhAUEiwA5xP54UQVp4LplouR-zZtLgGK0bFJrjNWc6OqDXlZ-xv-Mg_jYfXrRFrZ0xoCS-4QAvD_BwE

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/sudan-launches-first-ever-state-environment-and-outlook-report-help

https://www.unicef.org/sudan/stories/resilience-amid-sudan-crisis

https://www.unicef.org/sudan/stories/struggle-sustainability

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/need-sustainability-africa-through-lens-g20-neeti-mahajan/?trackingId=Byr8RTGGT5uaixLpsiRe%2Bg%3D%3D&trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/from-love-congo-collaboration-climate-resilience-neeti-mahajan-pciwf?trk=public_post_feed-article-content