Hard evidence emerges of chemical weapons attacks in Sudan

The U.S. State Department announced in May 2025 that the Sudanese army had used chemical weapons in the current war. This announcement came with no details about which chemical agents were used by the army, or where and at what scale, except that such weapons were deployed in 2024.

Sudan is home to the world largest humanitarian emergency, sparked by one of the worst armed conflicts in modern history. Fighting between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rogue paramilitary force wielding tremendous firepower, has left Khartoum in ruins. In the oppressed western Darfur region, entire communities are being annihilated by the RSF. Villages are burning, crops are rotting in the fields, and families are fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs. And it’s hardly ever in the news.

Sudan Crisis Guide

Trying to make sense of the war in Sudan? We’ll get you up to speed in a few minutes.

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Rumors of chemical weapons being deployed in Sudan have persisted throughout this war, as well as for decades before. The United States bombed an industrial plant in Khartoum in 1998 that it said was processing a VX nerve agent, a claim that came under serious question in the aftermath.

A substantial 2016 investigation by Amnesty International found credible evidence that chemical weapons had been used to kill and maim hundreds of Sudanese in Darfur, including children. Anecdotal accounts have leaked out of the oppressed Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions for years as well, often with fleeing refugees who saw strange, gaseous munitions explode.

Now a new investigation by France 24’s Observers team provides the first public evidence to corroborate the State Department’s allegations, indicating that Sudan’s army likely used chlorine gas in September 2024:

Using open-source investigation techniques (OSINT), the FRANCE 24 Observers team in Paris examined two incidents in September 2024 in and near the al-Jaili oil refinery, north of Khartoum, which the army was attempting to recapture from the RSF. After reviewing images of the attacks gathered by the Observers, five experts confirmed they were consistent with aerial drops of chlorine barrels. Only the Sudanese army possesses the aircraft needed for such bombardments.

The Observers team also traced the origin of one of the chlorine barrels used in the attacks. Imported from India by a Sudanese company that provides supplies to the Sudanese army, the chlorine was intended, according to the Indian exporter, “solely for treatment of drinking water”. Chlorine is a much-needed humanitarian product in Sudan, critical for purifying water in a country prone to cholera outbreaks.

The military use of chlorine would place Sudan among the few regimes to have deployed this rudimentary lethal gas since World War I, during which it was used on a large scale.

What is chlorine gas?

According to Physicians for Human Rights, chlorine gas is a pulmonary irritant with intermediate water solubility that causes acute damage in the upper and lower respiratory tract. At room temperature, it is a dense, yellow-green gas that settles along the ground. Chlorine gas causes oral, nasal, and ocular discomfort that serves as a warning property to get out of the area of exposure and limit pulmonary damage, which may occur with prolonged exposure. Chlorine gas turns to hydrochloric acid when it makes contact with moisture in airways; it then causes chemical burns to all respiratory tissue it contacts.

Screengrab from a video posted to a pro-RSF account in May 2025 and geolocated to the Barri military base, shows a yellow-green cloud characteristic of chlorine.

Exposure to chlorine gas can lead to diverse symptoms that are as mild as itchiness to shortness of breath to as severe as death. In the France 24 report, chemical weapons specialist Dan Kaszeta said of these specific attacks in Sudan:

“The symptoms of chlorine gas exposure are relatively generic, with few clearly identifiable signs. In reality, it is very difficult to kill someone with this gas when it is dispersed in the open air, in this way. It is mostly used as a strong irritant, to force opponents out of shelters and make them vulnerable to conventional bombardment.”

From another part of the France 24 report:

The Observers spoke with a former engineer who was inside the refinery on September 13, along with many other workers. For his safety, his name has been withheld. Now living abroad, he provided evidence of his employment at the al-Jaili refinery, as well as screenshots showing that he had reported the incident to contacts on the morning of  September 13. By phone, he said:

“It was early, around 8am. I was in my room, where we were housed. I heard a plane coming, and then there was a huge noise, like something falling. I went outside with two friends, and I saw a lot of smoke. Luckily I wasn’t near the zone. After 30 minutes, we went to see the place where the projectiles had fallen. The people near them were unconscious, or having trouble breathing, and coughing. We helped them, with the security staff, and took them to the refinery’s clinic.”

The engineer’s account is consistent with the images and witness statements posted online. He also said that some of the victims died after the incident. The Observers team was unable to confirm this allegation, and no other sources mention any deaths in connection with the two incidents.

Weaponized chlorine is prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Sudan is a member. The use of “asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases” on battlefields is also classified as a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Confirming army responsibility

While no images of army aircraft dropping chlorine barrels has emerged, just the immediate aftermath, it is well known that the army is the only force inside Sudan with the aerial capacity to drop chlorine barrels of this size.

The RSF only has drones for aerial bombing, which are not capable of carrying barrels this heavy. Cargo planes have been spotted in RSF-held areas of Sudan, especially at Nyala airport in South Darfur, but it is generally known these planes are delivering weapons to the RSF, likely from the United Arab Emirates. No documentation, imagery, or eyewitness accounts exist of the RSF conducting airstrikes with planes or helicopters. Sudan’s other smaller rebel, paramilitary, and militia groups have little to no air capacity at all.

That leaves the army. It’s also worth noting at the reported time of these likely chlorine attacks, the army had been battling to recapture the al-Jaili facility from the RSF for months. Although chlorine gas has rarely been deployed since WWI, its use as a weapon to try to “flush out” entrenched combatants matches the army’s combat objectives at the time. The army has repeatedly denied

What does all this mean for Sudan’s present situation? The widespread and heavy use of conventional munitions in areas of combat shows the war will continue with or without chemical weapons and continue to be immensely destructive. Still, the use of chemical weapons is just the latest reminder that, even with how bad the situation in Sudan already is, things can still get much worse. Reductions of violence and more humanitarian aid in any and all forms can save many lives, even if the war itself continues.

How you can help

Our free global event turns everyday runs, bike rides, and walks into lifesaving support. Every mile you put in and dollar you raise helps fund emergency aid and long-term education programs led by Sudanese heroes. Not a fan of fitness? We have an option where you can skip the moving and just fundraise. Every dollar raised still makes a difference. Donations are being matched for a limited time!

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900. You can also donate stock or crypto. Operation Broken Silence a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Our EIN is 80-0671198.

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• Share Our Posts: Instagram | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Reddit | LinkedIn

• A new investigation provides the first public evidence of chemical weapons usage on Sudan’s battlefields, indicating the national army likely used chlorine gas in September 2024. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/hard-evidence-emerges-of-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-sudan

• Rumors of chemical weapons being deployed in Sudan have persisted throughout this war, as well as for decades before. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/hard-evidence-emerges-of-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-sudan

• The military use of chlorine would place Sudan among the few regimes to have deployed this rudimentary lethal gas since World War I, during which it was used on a large scale. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/hard-evidence-emerges-of-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-sudan

• While no images of army aircraft dropping chlorine barrels has emerged, just the immediate aftermath, it is well known that the army is the only force inside Sudan with the aerial capacity to drop chlorine barrels of this size. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/hard-evidence-emerges-of-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-sudan

• Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Will you join us? https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/hard-evidence-emerges-of-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-sudan

Sudan Crisis Guide - What You Need To Know

This guide breaks down what’s happening in Sudan and why it matters. We update it regularly so you can stay informed. The latest update was on October 20, 2025. Want updates delivered directly to you? Join our email list. You can also find specific ways to help at the bottom of this guide.

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The War In Sudan

Sudan is a beautiful country with a rich history in northeast Africa, just south of Egypt along the Red Sea. With over 50 million people and deep diversity, Sudan sits at the crossroads of Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. It’s also the third-largest country on the continent.

On April 15, 2023, a brutal war broke out in Khartoum between:

• Sudan Armed Forces (SAF): The country’s official military, including the army, air force, and navy.

• Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group formed by a previous dictatorship.

Both sides failed to eliminate each other’s leadership and the violence quickly spiraled into a nationwide crisis. Police units, intelligence services, local militias, and some rebel groups from past conflicts have taken sides. The RSF is also recruiting foreign mercenaries from across the Sahel.

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Why Are Sudan’s Warring Factions Fighting?

The military and RSF were once allies. That began to change in October 2021, after they teamed up to overthrow a civilian-led reform government. Tensions rose rapidly between both sides after the coup. RSF commander Mohamed “Hemeti” Dagalo sees himself as Sudan’s next dictator, while SAF generals believe they are the rightful rulers.

It’s important to note that most of the Sudanese people want neither in charge. A majority want a democratic, civilian government. There are also deep ethnic divisions driving the violence:

• SAF: Led mostly by elite Nile Valley Arab officers, some of Sudan’s most privileged groups. While SAF is ethnically mixed at the ground level, Arab supremacy and racism persist. Army units have carried out ethnically targeted attacks on civilians.

• RSF: Dominated by Arab tribes from Darfur. Many commanders and fighters hold a violent, extremely racist ideology that promotes the ethnic cleansing of Darfur’s African communities and subjugation of all other Sudanese Arab.

This map shows approximate areas of control in Sudan:

• Pink: Sudan Armed Forces and Joint Forces allies

• Green: Rapid Support Forces and militia allies

• Purple: SLM, a Darfuri rebel group from previous wars

• Yellow: SPLM-N, indigenous rebel group in the Nuba Mountains from previous wars

• Orange: RSF and SPLM-N have a fragile alliance with troops that overlap in some areas.

After capturing Khartoum earlier this year, SAF launched major offensives into central and south-central Sudan, expanding their control to El-Obied and pushing westward toward RSF strongholds in Darfur. The RSF has mostly ground the army’s advance to a halt in North Kordofan.

Meanwhile, a SAF garrison and their local allies continues holding out in El Fasher in North Darfur despite a brutal RSF siege that has been underway since 2023.

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Map: Click or tap to expand. (source)

SAF’s long supply lines and ongoing fuel shortages —caused in part by RSF drone strikes on critical infrastructure— has weakened the army’s ability to continue advancing westward. The RSF is now operating closer to their main bases with tighter supply lines. Neither side seems capable of securing an outright victory. As the war grinds on, it’s the Sudanese people —trapped between bombs, drone strikes, food blockades, and targeted brutality— who continue to suffer most.

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Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis: The World’s Largest Emergency

It’s barely in the news, but Sudan is now collapsing before the world’s eyes. Khartoum’s neighborhoods lie in ruins. In the oppressed western Darfur region, entire communities are being annihilated by the RSF. Villages are burning, crops are rotting in the fields, and families are fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Food, medicine, and safety are all vanishing.

This war is just as much a war on the Sudanese people as it is between rival generals. The RSF is targeting ethnic African minorities for extermination and SAF is blocking aid access to large swaths of the country. War crimes are being committed en masse by both sides. The human toll is staggering:

• No one knows the death toll, but 200,000+ people have likely been killed by violence, starvation, and disease outbreaks. This is a conservative estimate based on the very little data that is available and is likely a severe undercount.

• A staggering 30 million Sudanese —over half of the entire country— are in need of humanitarian assistance. Over 8.7 million Sudanese have descended into emergency or famine conditions.

• Over 14 million people have fled their homes or have left Sudan as refugees.

• More than 65% of the country’s main hospitals are closed or destroyed, with the ones still functioning at risk of closure from shortages of medical staff, supplies, safe water, and electricity. Diseases outbreaks are spreading quickly, too.

• 90% of schools are closed, leaving 19 million children with no classroom to attend.

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Maps: The latest famine tracking and projections from The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. (source)

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What Are World Leaders Doing to End the War in Sudan?

World leaders have largely turned a blind eye as Sudan burns. A smattering of diplomatic efforts have failed to bring about a lasting ceasefire. International aid is only 27% funded for all of 2025 and the year is almost over, leaving millions of Sudanese facing hunger and disease. Even in refugee camps outside of Sudan, where aid is much easier to deliver, hunger is rampant due to the severe lack of attention.

The recent chaos the Trump Administration has inflicted on USAID —one of the largest providers of lifesaving food relief in Sudan— has resulted in the closure of over 60% of Sudanese-run emergency food kitchens, threatening to push more areas of the country into full-blown famine. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Russia are reportedly making things worse by supplying weapons, mercenaries, and resources to either SAF or RSF, further fueling the violence.

Despite these challenges, ordinary Sudanese are still finding ways to help each other. The international community can and should be doing far more to support Sudanese-led initiatives and prevent a total collapse into failed statehood.

How You Can Help The People of Sudan

Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. In September 2025, our supporters gave $27,275 to Sudanese heroes, including teachers, aid workers, sexual assault counselors, and healthcare professionals. Here’s how you can join us.

1. Sign Up For Miles For Sudan

Our global event turns everyday runs, bike rides, and walks into lifesaving support. Every mile you put in and dollar you raise helps fund emergency aid and long-term education programs led by Sudanese heroes.

Not a fan of fitness? No problem! We have an option where you can skip the moving and just fundraise. Every dollar raised still makes a difference. And the best part? Donations to your fundraising page will be matched!

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2. Give Once or Monthly

Make a donation or set up a small monthly gift instead:

$1,000 - Fully funds one classroom at Endure Primary School in Yida Refugee Camp for half a semester.

$500 - Delivers food to Darfuri genocide survivors who have fled to South Sudan.

$250 - Provides a daily breakfast to 10 children for an entire month in Adré refugee camp, where many Darfuri genocide survivors now live.

$100 - Helps deliver basic medicines to the clinic in Adré

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900. You can also donate stock or crypto.

Operation Broken Silence a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Our EIN is 80-0671198.

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3. Share This Guide & Get Our Emails

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Or, you can copy/paste one of these short messages to your feeds:

• How is this not the biggest story in the world right now? Sudan is collapsing and almost no one is talking about it. Check out this 🔗 to learn what’s happening and how to help. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/sudan-crisis-guide

• The world’s largest humanitarian crisis is happening right now in Sudan. It’s not making headlines—but it should be. This helpful guide breaks it down. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/sudan-crisis-guide

• Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian emergency on the planet. Mass hunger. War crimes. Millions displaced. The world must pay attention. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/sudan-crisis-guide

• Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. We’ve been doing this for over a decade. You can help, too: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/sudan-crisis-guide

Chalkboards delivered to schools in Yida Refugee Camp

The war in Sudan has decimated childhood education. Across the border in Yida Refugee Camp, we’re still doing our small part to help.

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In 2014, we began funding four Nuba teachers in Yida Refugee Camp —just south of Sudan’s Nuba Mountains— who were teaching under a tree. All they had was a half broken chalkboard. Over the years and with your help their efforts grew into the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools, where 22 local teachers serve more than 900 students every week.

Today, across Sudan, children are experiencing an education crisis unparalleled in recent history. Most schools have closed from the war, and it’s estimated over 19 million children are out of a classroom. Many may never have the chance to return. Refugee camps like Yida are some of the only places where Sudanese children can safely access education right now.

But even in the camps support for education is scarce due to a veil of silence around these problems. With crises raging in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as as political turmoil in the United States, there are few Sudan-minded donors today, and even fewer concerned about childhood education.

As we mentioned in our previous update, these challenges have become to difficult for us to continue wading through. We are now preparing to wind down operations at Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary through the end of the year as we shift into delivering a limited amount of supplies to Yida’s other schools moving forward.

The good news is that last week our education partner was able to deliver 40 chalkboards to other schools in Yida. All the schools here are severely under-resourced. Providing basic materials like chalkboards may not sound super exciting, but it’s a huge boon for teachers and students who are struggling to forge a better path.

This couldn’t have been possible without your support! Your generosity today helps build stronger classrooms —and brighter futures— for Sudanese children who have already overcome so much.

What’s Next?

📖 Textbooks are needed! Our education partner is working on the details and budgeting that out, but we are going ahead and starting our fundraising.

We are currently 1% of the way to reaching our $5,000 goal! Make a donation or set up a small monthly gift to support these teachers and students.

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence with Education written in the memo line and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900. You can also donate stock or crypto.

Can’t give? Sign up for Miles For Sudan, our global event to aid Sudanese heroes!

Operation Broken Silence a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Our EIN is 80-0671198.

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• Share Our Posts: Instagram | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Reddit | LinkedIn

• The war in Sudan has decimated childhood education. Across the border in Yida Refugee Camp, we’re still doing our small part to help. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/chalkboards-delivered-to-schools-in-yida-refugee-camp

• Even in the camps support for education is scarce due to a veil of silence around these problems. With crises raging in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as as political turmoil in the United States, there are few Sudan-minded donors today, and even fewer concerned about childhood education. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/chalkboards-delivered-to-schools-in-yida-refugee-camp

• Good news! Last week our education partner was able to deliver 40 chalkboards to other schools in Yida. Learn more: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/chalkboards-delivered-to-schools-in-yida-refugee-camp

• Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Will you join us? https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/chalkboards-delivered-to-schools-in-yida-refugee-camp

Nuba Education Update - September 2025

Program Background

Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world consistently supporting childhood education in Yida Refugee Camp, just south of Sudan’s historically-oppressed Nuba Mountains. We began funding four Sudanese teachers here in 2015 who were giving lessons underneath a tree with a half-broken chalkboard. Over the years and with your support, this determined effort has grown into the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools:

• 22 Nuba teachers and 4 support staff

• 915 students in total attendance - Endure Primary (638 students) and Renewal Secondary (277 students)

Students at Endure Primary regularly have some of the top-performing standardized testing scores in the region. Renewal Secondary is the only fully-functioning high school in Yida.

Our teachers also assist with a national exam prep program for primary students in Yida, occasionally deliver a limited amount of supplies to a handful of other schools, and assist with teaching at the only other secondary school in the camp.

All of this is possible because of the resilience of the Nuba people partnered with the generosity of people like you. The teachers and students work hard every day with encouragement from local families and rely on funding we provide to continue doing so.

Map by Operation Broken Silence

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Recent Updates

Endure Primary & Renewal Secondary. Life at the schools continues largely uninterrupted despite the war and famine in Sudan, as well as the massive education crisis from so many Sudanese schools being closed. Attendance has risen slightly to 915 students total throughout the year as new refugees from the Nuba Mountains to as far away as Khartoum have arrived in Yida.

National exams are approaching again and we expect another round of good results. Last year, 68 students at Endure Primary and 72 students at Renewal Secondary did well on their exams. The teachers and students are hopeful for similar results this year.

The wall and roofing repairs we mentioned in our last update are now mostly completed thanks to the generosity of several individual donors.

We’re also excited to announce that one of our few church partners has pledged to donate new chalkboards not only to classrooms at Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary, but also to other schools in Yida. We should get the funds out the door for that in early October.

Supplementary Education Support. Endure Primary School continues helping with national exam preparation for primary students in Yida, something that will start up again soon. Vision Secondary, the only other high school in Yida, continues to benefit from a handful of our teachers assisting with leading specific courses. Our Nuba education partner also recently delivered 6 boxes of chalk, 200 pens, 24 grading pens, 80 manilla folders, 18 plastic sheets for weather-proofing, and 6 new black boards to be used Yida.

War, other challenges, and a shift in direction

The devastating war between the army and Rapid Support Forces has decimated Sudan’s schools. It’s now estimated 90% of all Sudanese children don’t have a school to attend. Local officials estimate hundreds of thousands of Sudanese have fled into the Nuba Mountains as war and famine have spread, placing significant strains on the fragile region. Sporadic fighting on the western and northern frontlines in Nuba has further exacerbated needs.

While Yida remains an oasis of calm, this crisis still casts a dark shadow. Teachers and families are war-weary and frustrated that the world is still largely looking away from their country’s plight. For the schools though, funding remains the largest obstacle. Rapidly rising costs and a difficult international fundraising environment since 2020 mean they’re only getting about 35% of the funding they need. Most Sudan-minded donors are just not interested in childhood education, and that’s become an even steeper uphill battle in the wake of the current war.

There are still no signs fundraising for the schools will get easier any time soon. And if violence does erupt on a larger scale or humanitarian conditions worsen further across the border, larger refugee flows into Yida will begin, placing an even heavier strain on the fragile education system. We already don’t have the resources to mount an adequate response now, much more if things worsen.

Brave teachers and students have continued on this year despite these challenges; however, with everything more expensive and difficult, it’s become clear we’ve reached the point where something has to give. Our education partner has had many conversations on the ground in Yida the past several weeks about the challenges here. After a lot of thought and time spent in the community, they have recommended that we begin winding down operations at Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary through the end of the year, and then shift into delivering supplies to Yida’s other schools starting in 2026.

We agree this is the best course of action. It’s a bittersweet moment; so much good work has been done here the past 10 years. While our schools were never meant to be permanent, the positive effects you’ve helped make possible will be felt for years ahead. A number of students who have graduated have gone on to teach at other schools, and even more have taken their education into Yida’s market or back to their communities in the Nuba Mountains.

We hope to have a more concrete timeline for this transition soon and are excited for what lies ahead, but mostly we are grateful to all of you for being a part of this story. As one chapter closes and another begins, there is still much work to be done.

How You Can Help

Our free global event turns everyday runs, bike rides, and walks into life changing support. Every mile you put in and dollar you raise helps fund emergency aid and long-term education programs led by Sudanese heroes. Not a fan of fitness? We have an option where you can skip the moving and just fundraise. Every dollar raised still makes a difference, with donations through fundraising page are being matched for a limited time!

If fundraising is not your thing, we encourage you to make a one-time donation or setup a small monthly gift below.

$9,500: Helps cover teacher salaries through the end of the year.

$5,000: Fund an entire classroom for one year.

$1,250: Provide pencils, notebooks and other supplies to 200 students.

$500: Help deliver more chalkboards to classrooms.

$250: Provide pencils, notebooks and other supplies to 40 students.

$100: Give soccer balls and other sporting equipment to students.

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence with Education written in the memo line and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900. You can also donate stock or crypto.

Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

Shareables

Short statements you can share online and with others. Simply copy and paste.

• Share Our Posts: Instagram | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Reddit | LinkedIn

• Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world consistently supporting childhood education in Yida Refugee Camp, just south of Sudan’s historically-oppressed Nuba Mountains. They rely on supporters like you to continue doing so. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-september-2025

• Life at the schools continues largely uninterrupted despite the war and famine in Sudan, as well as the massive education crisis from so many Sudanese schools being closed. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-september-2025

• Sudan is home to the largest and most dangerous humanitarian emergency, far outpacing every other crisis in the world. The county is also home the largest children’s education crisis as most schools are closed. Here’s one way to help: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-september-2025

• Teachers in Yida are a small bulwark against the massive education crisis Sudanese kids face. Your generosity can make the difference now and help the teachers prepare for what lies ahead. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-september-2025

“A war of atrocities” in Sudan — UN Fact-Finding Mission reports widespread international crimes

The latest fact-finding report to the UN Human Rights Council shows both the army and Rapid Support Forces are deliberately targeting the Sudanese people.

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The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan says the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are committing large scale war crimes and other violent acts that may amount to crimes against humanity, including persecution and extermination. The 18 page report focuses on the impact on the civilian population and critical infrastructure and describes atrocities documented during the reporting period.

Report Summary

UN experts issued repeated meeting requests to the army and RSF as part of their work. Neither side responded. Neighboring countries including Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda issued visas for investigators to meet with Sudanese refugee communities there. The Fact-Finding Mission’s main findings are summarized:

Sudan Crisis Guide

Trying to make sense of the war in Sudan? We’ll get you up to speed in a few minutes.

Learn More

“As the conflict in Sudan intensifies, parties not only failed to protect civilians and critical infrastructure, but rendered civilians primary targets. The Mission documented widespread violence against individuals and communities, including killings, mass displacement, detention, enforced disappearance, and sexual violence. Civilian infrastructure suffered extensive damage, with medical centres, schools, markets, food production systems, electricity stations, and displacement camps under attack.

The Mission finds that both warring parties and allies targeted civilians. Civilians and individuals taking no active part in hostilities were killed and injured through shelling and attacks on displacement camps, checkpoints, roads, and convoys, as well as retaliatory assaults based on perceived allegiances. They also faced torture, arbitrary detention and sexual violence.” (4)

While we encourage our followers to read the report in full, we’ve pulled forward some key anecdotes below.

RSF Crimes

Since May 2024, the Zamzam displacement camp, south of El Fasher, was also regularly shelled by the Rapid Support Forces. The Rapid Support Forces associate certain communities, particularly the Zaghawa, with the joint forces allied to the Sudanese Armed Forces which are present in the area. One witness noted: "They burned everything. They claimed they only wanted to fight soldiers, but they punished the whole community. It felt like they wanted to remove us because of who we are."…From 11 to 13 April 2025, the Rapid Support Forces and allies launched a large-scale ground offensive on the camp. A large military convoy entered the camp, firing randomly, killing and injuring many. Members or perceived associates of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Joint Forces were summarily executed. Estimates of the number of persons killed range from 300 to 1500, with over 157 wounded, the majority women and children. By the time the Rapid Support Forces took control, parts of the camp were burned, and all facilities were destroyed. Over 400,000 inhabitants, about 81 per cent of the camp's population, were again displaced, with many fleeing towards Tawilah or back to El Fasher. (4)

Following the defection of Commander Abu Aqla Keikel and his Sudan Shield Forces from the Rapid Support Forces to the Sudanese Armed Forces on 20 October 2024, the Rapid Support Forces launched attacks in Keikel’s stronghold in East Gezira. Over 30 towns and villages including Tamboul, Rufaa, al Sireha and al-Hilaliya, were targeted. Witnesses reported extra-judicial killings, beatings, widespread looting and rape. The Rapid Support Forces entered Tamboul in vehicles and on motorbikes, shooting at residents with heavy machine guns, entering houses, beating and insulting residents for the perceived celebration of Keikel’s defection. By November 2024, the Rapid Support Forces reportedly killed hundreds including 80 in al Sireha alone. Over 130,000 people fled their homes. (5)

The Rapid Support Forces detained civilians in Darfur, Khartoum and other parts of Sudan under its control in military bases, police stations, prisons, and civilian infrastructure that were converted into detention facilities. Most detainees were arrested at their homes or checkpoints. They were held incommunicado without access to legal representation or communication with, or visits by their families. None were charged nor appeared before a court. Guards of the Rapid Support Forces subjected them to severe beatings with whips. One interviewee stated he was beaten, whipped, and drenched with cold water for several hours until he lost consciousness. The beating continued for three days. (7)

The Rapid Support Forces used sexual violence as a deliberate tactic to humiliate and subjugate women, girls, and entire communities. Such violence is rooted in racism, prejudice and extreme cruelty, and violence has become a defining feature of the conflict. It is enabled by widespread impunity…It took place in streets, public squares, homes, abandoned buildings, and forested areas. In some incidents, multiple perpetrators in Rapid Support Forces uniforms raped women and girls. In June 2025, one survivor fleeing from El Fasher was stopped at a checkpoint of the Rapid Support Forces between Shagra and Tawilah. She was taken to an abandoned building, along with several other women and girls aged 15 to 17, where they were all raped. Some raped women were visibly pregnant while others became pregnant as a result. (8)

Army Crimes

After the Sudanese Armed Forces and their allies recaptured Gezira in January 2025, reprisals targeted particularly the Kanabi community, that it accused of siding with the Rapid Support Forces. From 9 to 12 January 2025, the Sudan Shield Forces attacked several Kanabi villages, including Tayba and Dar al-Salam al-Hideba. They arrived in armed vehicles, shooting and killing unarmed civilians, burning homes, and looting property and livestock. In Tayba alone, at least 26 individuals, including a child, were killed. Perpetrators used racial slurs against victims such as “abeed” (slaves) and “gharaba” (foreigners). In Dar al-Salam al-Hideba, at least 16 individuals were killed and many houses looted and burned. Some remain missing. Most residents were forced to flee and were prevented from returning to their village. (6)

During the retaking of Wad Madani, between 12 and 25 January 2025, videos verified by the Mission show individuals in army fatigues beating a civilian on crutches. Another man was beaten, thrown from a bridge and then shot. Other videos show individuals beaten while accused of supporting the Rapid Support Forces. Some perpetrators appeared in Baraa bin Malik Brigade uniforms. One perpetrator can be heard saying "this is in revenge for all our martyrs". (6)

Arrests carried by the Sudanese Armed Forces were mainly based on suspicion of collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces. In areas retaken by the Sudanese Armed Forces or at army checkpoints, many who lived under control of the Rapid Support Forces were stopped, beaten and detained for alleged association with the Rapid Support Forces. Former detainees reported their incommunicado detention and the lack of due process and judicial oversight. Only one of them appeared before a judge, which led to his release following more than two months of detention…In Serkab prison in Karari, Omdurman, a victim was hit with a hammer upon arrival. He was interrogated about his connections with the Rapid Support Forces while being forced to sit naked on a metal chair, with weights attached to his genitals, while two masked men administered electric shocks. Another victim, arrested in El Fasher in April 2025, was beaten by six soldiers for denying collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces. He was later held in solitary confinement for 20 days before being released. (6-7)

The Mission received evidence that members of the Sudanese Armed Forces committed sexual violence in White Nile, Blue Nile, Khartoum and Northern State. Documented incidents include rape, sexual harassment, and sexualized torture of women and men, particularly during detention or while fleeing. (9)

Additional Information

The Mission has documented a consistent pattern of attacks on civilian infrastructure and objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. Hospitals, markets, water sources and electricity systems were damaged. These attacks have had a devastating impact on civilians, denying them access to healthcare, food, clean water and shelter. Food insecurity increased due to the inability of farmers to reach their fields, and because seeds were not distributed due to the conflict. (10)

The Mission finds that attacks on, or in the vicinity of medical infrastructure by both parties caused the near-total collapse of the healthcare system across Sudan. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other organisations documented several hundred attacks on health care infrastructure since the beginning of the conflict. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that as of 30 June 2025, less than 25 per cent of the health facilities remained operational in the worst-affected areas. (12)

Humanitarian workers and facilities were targeted or caught in the crossfire. Between April 2023 and April 2025, more than 84 Sudanese humanitarian workers were reportedly killed. (13)

Disruptions to food supply chains and agricultural production, as well as delays and administrative challenges in delivering aid have resulted in widespread hunger and malnutrition, with some areas facing famine conditions. According to the WFP, Sudan is on the brink of becoming the world’s most severe hunger emergency in recent history. (14)

In January and July 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court reiterated it had reasonable grounds to believe that international crimes continue to be committed in Darfur. It announced that steps were being taken to request arrest warrants. (3)

How you can help

Our free global event turns everyday runs, bike rides, and walks into lifesaving support. Every mile you put in and dollar you raise helps fund emergency aid and long-term education programs led by Sudanese heroes. Not a fan of fitness? We have an option where you can skip the moving and just fundraise. Every dollar raised still makes a difference. Donations are being matched for a limited time!

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900. You can also donate stock or crypto. Operation Broken Silence a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Our EIN is 80-0671198.

Shareables

Short statements you can share online and with others. Simply copy and paste.

• Share Our Posts: Instagram | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Reddit | LinkedIn

• The latest fact-finding report to the UN Human Rights Council show both the army and Rapid Support Forces are deliberately targeting the Sudanese people. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes

• The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan says the army and Rapid Support Forces are committing large scale war crimes and other violent acts that may amount to crimes against humanity. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes

• Between April 2023 and April 2025, more than 84 Sudanese humanitarian workers were reportedly killed. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes

• According to the WFP, Sudan is on the brink of becoming the world’s most severe hunger emergency in recent history. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes

• Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Will you join us? https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes

Adré Children’s Feeding Program and Clinic Update - September 2025

Program Background

When war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, Darfur quickly became the epicenter of some of the conflict’s worst atrocities. What began as a power struggle between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) spiraled into a brutal, targeted campaign of violence. The largely Arab RSF launched a hate-driven assault on Darfur’s historic ethnic African communities, including the Zaghawa, Fur, and Masalit people groups.

Map by Operation Broken Silence

Parts of Darfur are now in famine. Refugees crossing the border into Adré, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and thousand-yard stares, tell stories of mass killings and starvation. Darfur has descended into ethnic cleansing, widespread rape, and total lawlessness under RSF occupation. Markets, farms, banks, and aid warehouses have been looted or destroyed.

In response, Operation Broken Silence is helping local heroes deliver emergency food and medical care to some of the most vulnerable refugee communities in eastern Chad. We’re supporting trusted Sudanese community leaders in two key areas:

• The Adré refugee camps

• The Tiné area

Below are important updates from the Children’s Feeding Center and Healthcare Clinic in Adré—both of which are refugee-led and privately funded by people like you.

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For You Healthcare Clinic

Against the backdrop of displacement, hunger, and disease, the small clinic in Adré continues saving and changing lives. Each week the dedicated medical and administrative teams work with compassion to deliver lifesaving care to Sudanese refugees, despite limited resources and growing demand.

Photos: Life at the Clinic in Adré

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of people needing the clinic’s services, particularly with a rise in malaria cases from the rainy season and new arrivals from several areas of Darfur. Here’s a snapshot of the malaria crisis in July, as well as other work from the clinic during the last week of August:

Malaria Response: There is currently an upsurge of malaria cases due to the rainy season that provides a perfect medium for mosquito breeding. Additional factors such as stagnant water, lack of proper shelter, lack of environmental health to treat the mosquito breeding sites, and a lack of insecticide mosquito treated nets also play a role.

During July 2025, the Clinic recorded a total of 1355 malaria cases. The laboratory performed an average of 30-35 malaria laboratory tests per day. Distribution of the cases according to clinical severity of infection shows:

• 50% of the cases are complicated cases with “cerebral malaria,“ with mortality rate of 50-60%.

• 60%-70% of the total cases are recorded among children under 5 years of age. Common cases are among pregnant & lactating mothers.

• The clinic recorded many cases with severe anemia due malaria and also renal failure.

Health authorities in Adré have designated the Clinic as a vaccination center for staff, patients, and their companions, effective September 2, 2025.

Chronic Diseases Clinic: Received 156 patients suffering from conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases, with medications provided free of charge.

Women and Obstetrics Clinic: Received 20 women, focusing on pregnancy follow-ups and consultations, with some cases of bleeding recorded.

Emergency Department: Handled 40 emergency cases, most of which were related to malaria and vaginal bleeding.

Nursing and Minor Procedures Department: Provided care for 68 patients through dressings, injections, and quick therapeutic interventions.

Awareness and Guidance Department: The team continued to implement intensive awareness sessions on cholera and prevention methods, amid increasing risks due to the autumn season.

Training Department: No training workshops were held last week due to field conditions and weather.

For You Children’s Feeding Center

In the last week of August, the Children’s Feeding Center provided 1,250 meals for children, supporting efforts to combat malnutrition in the camps. Here are a few recent photos.

Photos: Life at the Feeding Center in Adré

Current conditions in the Adré camps

What began as a desperate escape from West Darfur is now a protracted humanitarian emergency in eastern Chad. Sudanese refugees fleeing ethnic cleansing and famine face hunger and disease after arriving at one of the 30+ informal border crossings, many having walked for days carrying only what they could, including mothers and children weakened by hunger and trauma. The scale of this crisis is staggering:

• The number of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad has surged to over 875,000 people.

• 87% of those registered are women and children, of which 25% are adult women.

• Over 235,000 refugees are currently settled in the Adré area, more than five times the town’s original population.

• 14% have specific needs, including people with disabilities, chronic illness, or those who are unaccompanied.

• The Chadian government and United Nations estimate that by the end of 2025, the total number of refugees and returnees across Chad could eclipse one million people.

• Source: UNHCR CHAD | CORE Sudan Emergency Situation (August 31, 2025)

These heroes need your help

The needs in Adré are urgent and growing every week. Right now, it takes a minimum of $8,500 each month to keep the For You Child Feeding Center & Clinic running at minimal capacity. This covers everything from medical supplies and health awareness to hot meals for vulnerable children to basic medication for patients that couldn’t afford it otherwise.

These programs can expand with even more funding. Thousands are still waiting for care. Countless children go to bed hungry every night. You can help change that. In a place where hope is in short supply, your generosity means more than you can imagine.

• $8,500: fully fund the Feeding Center and Clinic for an entire month

• $4,000: support the children's feeding program for one month

• $1,000: provide one week of all basic medicines needed at the clinic

• $500: feed 500 hungry children for one week

• $250: help expand the children's feed program

• $100: deliver nutritional supplements that help fight malnutrition

• $50: deliver anti-malarial, typhus and other speciality medications

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence with Adré in the memo line and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900. You can also donate stock or crypto.

Operation Broken Silence a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Our EIN is 80-0671198.

Shareables

Short statements you can share online and with others. Simply copy and paste.

• Share Our Posts: Instagram | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Reddit | LinkedIn

• When war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, Darfur quickly became the epicenter of some of the conflict’s worst atrocities, sparking off a protracted humanitarian emergency for refugees in eastern Chad. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/adre-childrens-feeding-program-and-clinic-update-september-2025

• Over 235,000 refugees are currently settled in the Adré area. Most are women and children. A small clinic and feeding center are saving lives, but they need your help to keep going. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/adre-childrens-feeding-program-and-clinic-update-september-2025

• The small clinic in Adré continues saving and changing lives. Each week, the dedicated team works with compassion to deliver lifesaving care to Sudanese refugees, despite limited resources and growing demand. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/adre-childrens-feeding-program-and-clinic-update-september-2025

• What does hope look like in a refugee camp? It looks like a child receiving her only hot meal of the day. A mother being treated for malaria. A community standing together. Help us keep hope alive. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/adre-childrens-feeding-program-and-clinic-update-september-2025