When classrooms crumble, so does opportunity for refugees

As war rages in Sudan, across the border in Yida Refugee Camp something extraordinary is still happening: children are going to school.

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In 2014, we began funding four Nuba teachers in Yida Refugee Camp —just south of the Nuba Mountains— who were teaching under a tree. All they had was a half broken chalkboard. Over the years and with our help they have grown their efforts into the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools, where 22 local teachers serve more than 700 students every week.

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

Even after escaping unimaginable violence or having been born in Yida, these students show up each day eager to learn. Their teachers —refugees themselves— are passionate, dedicated, and resilient. Together, they’re making progress despite difficult circumstances. But classrooms are under significant strain, and two urgent needs are putting learning at risk:

🛠️ Classrooms need critical repairs. Cracked walls and leaky roofs make it hard to focus and are not safe. Repairs have already begun, but we need to raise $2,400 to complete repairs so students have a safe space to learn.

👨🏾‍🏫 Most chalkboards are in their final days. Worn down from years of use, some are becoming unusable. Teachers are doing their best but it is time to replace them. Another $1,700 will provide brand-new chalkboards across the classrooms.

These may seem like simple things and don’t cost much money. But to a teacher trying to reach dozens of students in a packed classroom, or to a child eager to learn, they make all the difference. Your generosity today helps build stronger classrooms —and brighter futures— for Sudanese children who have already overcome so much.

We are currently 40% of the way to reaching our $4,100 goal! Make a donation or set up a small monthly gift to support these teachers and students:

$1,200 - Fund half of all needed repairs at the schools.

$850 - Deliver 6 new chalkboards to our classrooms.

$500 - Help purchase and deliver weatherproofing materials that can’t be sourced locally.

$140 - Give a chalkboard to a classroom.

$50 - Help purchase roofing materials locally.

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence with Schools 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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Short statements you can share online and text to others. Simply copy and paste.

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

• As war rages in Sudan, across the border in Yida Refugee Camp something extraordinary is still happening: children are going to school. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/when-classrooms-crumble-so-does-opportunity-for-refugees

• Cracked walls and leaky roofs make it hard to focus and are not safe. Repairs have already begun, but we need to raise $2,400 to complete repairs so students have a safe space to learn. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/when-classrooms-crumble-so-does-opportunity-for-refugees

• Worn down from years of use, some chalkboards will soon be unusable. We need to raise $1,700 to provide brand-new chalkboards across our classrooms: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/when-classrooms-crumble-so-does-opportunity-for-refugees

• 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/when-classrooms-crumble-so-does-opportunity-for-refugees

U.S. State Department says chemical weapons used in Sudan

Left: Chlorine gas cylinders (Canva Pro). Right: A recent explosion at Port Sudan airport (social media).

The grim announcement came with no details about which chemical agents were used —or where and at what scale— except that such weapons were deployed in 2024.

•••••

On May 22, the U.S. State Department announced a determination that the Sudanese army has used chemical weapons in the current war. The 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.

While no solid evidence of chemical weapons usage in Sudan has been made public so far, in January the New York Times reported that chlorine gas had been used on at least two occasions in remote areas. Weaponized chlorine gas reacts with water in the lungs to form hydrochloric acid, which is destructive to living tissue and can be lethal. It was first used in World War I and has been confirmed used as recently as the Syrian Civil War.

Sudan Crisis Guide

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

Learn More

It’s unclear if the State Department determination is about these incidents or something else entirely, or both.

This is not the first time that allegations of chemical weapons usage in Sudan have arisen. The United States bombed an industrial plant in Khartoum in 1998 that it claimed was used for processing a VX nerve agent, and that the owners of the plant had ties to al-Qaeda. Those claims came under serious question in the aftermath. A substantial investigation by Amnesty International in 2016 found credible evidence that chemical weapons had been used to kill and maim hundreds of civilians, including children, in Darfur.

Anecdotal accounts of chemical weapons attacks have leaked out of Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile –three of the most oppressed regions of Sudan– for years, often with refugees who saw strange munitions explode.

According to the State Department’s recent determination:

”Following a 15-day Congressional notification period, the United States will impose sanctions on Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and on access to U.S. government lines of credit. The sanctions will take effect upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, expected on or around June 6, 2025. The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC. The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation.”

These sanctions will likely be largely symbolic, as there is very limited trade between the United States and Sudan. Both countries have signed The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty that prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons.

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.

Ready to make your miles count toward aiding Sudanese heroes? Now is the perfect time to sign up for free and get moving! All you have to do is share a link to your fundraising page every time you run, walk, or bike.

Can’t participate? Make a donation or set up a small monthly gift to our Sudanese partners:

$1,000 - Fully funds one classroom at Endure Primary School in Yida Refugee Camp for three months.

$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 - Supports a sexual assault counselor who has fled the Greater El Fasher area in North Darfur.

$50 - Helps bring school supplies to students in Yida Refugee Camp.

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

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

• The U.S. State Department says chemical weapons have been used in Sudan’s brutal war, which is now in its third year. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan

• The grim announcement came with no details about which chemical agents were used —or where and at what scale— except that such weapons were deployed in 2024. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan

• While no solid evidence of chemical weapons usage in Sudan has been made public so far, in January the New York Times reported that chlorine gas had been used on at least two occasions in remote areas. It’s unclear if the State Department determination is about these incidents or something else entirely, or both. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan

• The widespread use of conventional munitions shows the war will continue to be immensely destructive. But the use of chemical weapons is another reminder that, even with how bad the situation in Sudan already is, things can still get much worse. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-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/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-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 May 31, 2025.

Want updates delivered directly to you? Join our email list. You’ll also find actions you can take to help at the end of this guide.

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Sudan’s Civil War

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

In April 2023, a brutal war broke out 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 military regime.

Police units, intelligence services, local militias, and even rebel groups from past conflicts have taken sides—some fighting, others defending their communities. The RSF is also recruiting foreign mercenaries from across the Sahel.

The war began with gunfire in the capital, Khartoum, on April 15, 2023. Both sides tried and failed to eliminate each other’s leadership and the violence quickly spiraled into a nationwide crisis.

Why Are Sudan’s Warring Factions Fighting?

The military and RSF were once uneasy allies. That began to change in October 2021, after both teamed up to overthrow a civilian-led reform government. After the coup, tensions began to rise rapidly. RSF commander Mohamed “Hemeti” Dagalo sees himself as Sudan’s next dictator. SAF generals believe they are the rightful rulers. It’s important to point out that the majority of the Sudanese people want neither in charge What they want is 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.

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

Sudan is collapsing before the world’s eyes with few people watching. In Khartoum, neighborhoods lie in ruins. In Darfur, entire communities have been annihilated. 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 one 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 175,000+ people have likely been killed by violence, starvation, and disease.

• Nearly 30 million Sudanese —over half of the entire country— are facing high levels of acute food insecurity.

• Over 8 million Sudanese have descended into famine or near-famine conditions.

• Almost 15 million people have been forced to flee their homes or have left Sudan as refugees.

• Over 80% of the country’s healthcare system is closed down or destroyed. Diseases outbreaks are spreading quickly.

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

Who Controls What in Sudan’s War?

Sudan is now a patchwork of shifting frontlines—and civilians are caught in the middle. As of May 31, 2025:

• SAF and their allies control most of the north and east, plus parts of central and southern Sudan. They also maintain a tenuous foothold in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which is under siege by the RSF.

• The RSF still control most of Darfur (western Sudan) and parts of the center and south.

Over the past several weeks, SAF has launched major counteroffensives, driving the RSF out of Khartoum while slowly expanding their control into south-central Sudan. Meanwhile, the RSF has been losing momentum in key areas, with its forces struggling to hold onto territory in central Sudan. Many communities once under RSF control are welcoming the end of RSF terror, but the return of SAF doesn't mean safety or stability. Neither side is close to winning and the war grinds on. It’s the Sudanese people —trapped between bombs, food blockades, and brutality— who continue to suffer most.

The below map shows approximate areas of control in Sudan as of May 31, 2025.

Map: l.r. stands for local resistance, with both of those armed groups having spent much of this war defending their territory and ethnic minority populations against the army or RSF. Click or tap to expand. (source)

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

World leaders have largely turned a blind eye as Sudan burns. Despite the scale of the crisis, a smattering of diplomatic efforts have failed to bring about a lasting ceasefire. International aid is only 13.5% funded for 2025, 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 lack of support.

To make matters worse, 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 reported closure of over 60% of Sudanese-run emergency food kitchens, threatening to push more areas of the country into full-blown famine. Some countries —including the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Russia— are making things worse by supplying weapons and resources to either SAF or RSF, further fueling the violence.

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

May 2025 Generosity

Our supporters gave $22,150 to Sudanese heroes, including aid workers, teachers, and healthcare professionals. This money is being used right now to save and change lives.

MEET OUR PARTNERS ➡

How You Can Help The Sudanese People

Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Right now, our Sudanese partners are overwhelmed with urgent needs. You can help. By joining Miles For Sudan or donating below, you will be providing critical support to those most at risk.

Can’t participate? 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 - Supports the monthly work of a sexual assault counselor in Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur, Sudan.

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

• 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-2024-what-you-need-to-know

• 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-2024-what-you-need-to-know

• 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-2024-what-you-need-to-know

• 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-2024-what-you-need-to-know

Movement Spotlight: Mick Nguyen

Operation Broken Silence is a small nonprofit dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Everything we do, from supporting Sudanese teachers in underfunded classrooms or frontline healthcare in refugee camps, is made possible by people who give monthly, fundraise, and donate to Sudanese heroes. Today, we’d like to introduce you to one of these special supporters.

Meet Mick Nguyen

When Mick moved from Orange County to Sacramento for a mission with the Air National Guard, he quickly found himself immersed in a city known for its nonprofit energy and civic engagement. “It’s fun living in Midtown,” he says. “The headquarters of so many nonprofits are here on the grid and the Capital is within walking distance. It’s a great place if you’re into volunteering and being politically active.”

It didn’t take long for Mick’s interest in global issues to grow into direct action. While completing his capstone project, he turned to Google with a simple but profound question: What is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world today? The answer led him to Sudan—and ultimately to us.

“Being in the intelligence field, I deal a lot in geopolitics,” Mick explains. “So I took to researching Sudan easily. OBS’s explainer content was a valuable source I cited for my StoryMap. By the end of the semester, I felt the need to take real action on the issue instead of just retaining all this knowledge.”

That desire to act sparked his involvement in Miles for Sudan, our global event for runners, walkers, and cyclists raising awareness and funds for the Sudanese people. For Mick, it was a natural extension of something he already loved.

“Running in the form of 5Ks and run clubs is already associated with fundraisers and the like,” he says. “This felt like a natural outlet to raise awareness on a social issue. Whether via my Strava posts or word of mouth, I have been the first introduction for most people to this crisis.”

When donors give to his campaign, Mick thanks them in a way that perfectly reflects his personality—by sending them a Tiny Desk Concert where Kehlani shouts, “Free Sudan!” It’s unexpected, heartfelt, and a great conversation starter.

His journey with Miles for Sudan has already led to major personal milestones. “I wouldn’t have completed my first ever 10K Spartan Race had it not been for Miles For Sudan,” he says. “Running for health is one thing, but running in service of a meaningful cause has been the ultimate motivator. Half-marathons and marathons are on the horizon!” And Mick has now raised nearly $3,000 for our Sudanese partners through his fundraising page!

His encouragement for anyone thinking about jumping in? He keeps it simple: “What Nike says.” Mick’s story is a reminder that when we combine what we love with what matters, real change becomes possible. Whether you're running, fundraising, or simply sharing Sudan’s story, our friends in Sudan need whatever help you can provide.

Get Involved

Ready to make your miles count toward aid to Sudan? This summer is the perfect time to sign up for free and get moving! All you have to do is share a link to your fundraising page every time you run, walk, or bike.

Can’t participate? 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 - Supports the monthly work of a sexual assault counselor and food relief in the El Fasher/Zamzam area in North Darfur, Sudan.

$50 - Helps bring school supplies to students in Yida Refugee Camp.

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 text to others. Simply copy and paste.

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

• Everything we do —whether it’s supporting frontline healthcare in refugee camps or Sudanese supporting teachers in underfunded classrooms— is made possible by people who choose to stand with the Sudanese. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/movement-spotlight-mick-nguyen

• “I took to researching Sudan easily. OBS’s explainer content was a valuable source I cited for my StoryMap. By the end of the semester, I felt the need to take real action on the issue instead of just retaining all this knowledge.” https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/movement-spotlight-mick-nguyen

• Meet OBS supporter Mick Nguyen, who has raised nearly $3,000 for Sudanese heroes through our global event Miles For Sudan. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/movement-spotlight-mick-nguyen

• 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/movement-spotlight-mick-nguyen

Letter to Congress urging a restart of the Sudan Caucus

Photo from Canva Pro

Operation Broken Silence is joining 75 organizations and experts in urging key Senators and Representatives to restart the Congressional Sudan Caucus.

What does this mean?

A caucus is a group of lawmakers from both parties who come together around a shared concern or cause. Unlike a formal committee, a caucus doesn’t write legislation; but, it can build momentum for legislation and push for coordinated action where it’s most needed.

Today, Sudan is home to the world’s largest human rights and humanitarian catastrophe, brought on by two years of extreme warfare between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Khartoum’s neighborhoods already lie in ruins and, in Darfur, entire communities have been annihilated by the RSF. Villages are burning and families are fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Famine is rampant and access to healthcare is evaporating.

In the past, the Sudan Caucus played a key role in helping the United States engage effectively in Sudan. In addition to ensuring appropriations for lifesaving humanitarian assistance, the Caucus was instrumental in ending Sudan’s 22-year civil war, which took the lives of over 2 million people, and urged President Bush to appoint a Special Envoy to help secure the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Additionally, the Sudan Caucus consistently and urgently sounded the alarm for the people of Darfur as genocide swept through the region and additional violence into the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. The Caucus supported the imposition of sanctions and other penalties, including arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court, against the Bashir regime and its proxy, the Janjaweed, rebranded today as the Rapid Support Forces.

It’s not an overstatement to say that U.S. engagement has been most effective when the Sudan Caucus is active. A renewed Caucus can once again influence American support in the region to help save lives, halt the sale of weapons, and increase the opportunity for peace and development. Since this letter was delivered in early April, Congressional offices have already begun to step up:

• Meeks, Jacobs, Cherfilus-McCormick, Jackson, Jayapal, Olszewski Statement on Two Years of Brutal War in Sudan

• Letter to Secretary Rubio from Senators Warner, Kain, Booker, Young and Rounds for a Special Envoy

• Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing - East Africa & The Horn: At a Turning Point or Breaking Point?

• Murphy, Van Hollen, Sanders, Kaine, Schatz File Joint Resolutions of Disapproval on $1.6b in Arms Sales to United Arab Emirates

• House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing - A Dire Crisis in Sudan: A Global Call to Action

Get Involved

Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Our Sudanese partners are overwhelmed with needs as war and hunger spread. By joining our global campaign Miles For Sudan or giving below, you will help them serve the most vulnerable in this time of tremendous need.

Can’t participate? 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 - Supports a sexual assault counselor in the Greater El Fasher area of North Darfur.

$50 - Helps bring school supplies to students in Yida Refugee Camp.

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

• Operation Broken Silence is joining 75 organizations and experts in urging key Senators and Representatives to restart the Congressional Sudan Caucus. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-congress-urging-a-restart-of-the-sudan-caucus

• Today, Sudan is home to the world’s largest human rights and humanitarian catastrophe, brought on by two years of extreme warfare between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-congress-urging-a-restart-of-the-sudan-caucus

• A renewed Sudan Caucus can once again influence and American support in the region to help save lives, halt the sale of weapons, and increase the opportunity for peace and development. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-congress-urging-a-restart-of-the-sudan-caucus

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

Program Background

When war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, Darfur quickly became the epicenter of some of the worst atrocities in modern history. What began as a battle for power 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-fueled assault against Darfur’s historic ethnic African communities, including the Zaghawa, Fur, and Masalit.

Map by Operation Broken Silence.

Between April and June 2023 alone, up to 15,000 Masalit civilians were systematically massacred by the RSF in West Darfur. By early November 2023, the RSF had overrun most of Darfur, seizing nearly every major city and cornering army units in the Greater El Fasher area. What’s followed is a nightmare.

Parts of Darfur are now in famine. Refugees arriving in Chad speak of mass killings, starvation deaths, and unimaginable loss and suffering. Many arrive in Adré with empty stomachs and thousand-yard stares. Under RSF occupation, Darfur has become a place of ongoing ethnic cleansing, widespread rape, and total lawlessness. Markets, farms, banks, and aid warehouses have been looted or destroyed. Many survivors have fled across the border into Adré, eastern Chad.

In response, Operation Broken Silence is helping provide emergency food and medical care to some of the most at-risk displaced and refugee communities. We’re supporting trusted local leaders in two key areas:

• The Adré Refugee Camps in eastern Chad

• The Greater El Fasher Area in North Darfur

We have some important updates below concerning the past few weeks at the Children’s Feeding Center and Healthcare Clinic we are helping to support in Adré. Both of these institutions are entirely privately funded and led by refugee leaders themselves.

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For You Children’s Feeding Center

After a short pause during Ramadan, the Child Feeding Center has resumed operations, serving more than 2,300 nutritious meals to children and vulnerable patients over the past two weeks. The impact was immediate—children returned eagerly, some smiling for the first time in days. For many, these meals are their only reliable source of nourishment.

Photos: Life at the Children’s Feeding Center in Adré

For You Healthcare Clinic

Against the backdrop of displacement, hunger, and disease, the For You Clinic in Adré continues to be a lifeline. Each week, their dedicated medical and administrative teams work with incredible discipline and compassion to deliver lifesaving care to Sudanese refugees—despite limited resources and overwhelming demand. Here’s a snapshot of life in the clinic over the past two weeks:

General Medical Care
More than 1,340 patients received treatment. Respiratory infections—driven by dust storms and overcrowded conditions—remain the most common illness, followed by gastrointestinal infections, malaria, and urinary tract issues. These health trends reflect worsening camp conditions and the growing urgency for clean water, proper sanitation, and nutrition support.

Chronic Disease Support
The clinic served over 215 patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. These patients received essential medications, monitoring, and ongoing support to help manage their conditions—an often-overlooked need in emergency settings.

Women’s Health Services
The Obstetrics and Gynecology unit provided personalized care to 40 women. Services ranged from prenatal consultations to treatment for infections, filling a critical gap in a population where women’s health is especially vulnerable.

Emergency and Minor Procedures
The Emergency Department handled 60 urgent cases, including severe malaria and low blood pressure. Meanwhile, the nursing team treated 166 patients, delivering wound care, administering medicines, and performing minor procedures—all with a deep sense of urgency and care.

Health Education & Awareness
The Awareness and Counseling Department continues to be a crucial pillar of the clinic. Volunteer staff held hundreds of individual and group sessions, focusing on:

• Maternal health and nutrition during pregnancy

• Childhood vaccinations and disease prevention

• Managing chronic conditions

• Personal hygiene and infection prevention

• Giardiasis awareness and prevention

Giardiasis—a gastrointestinal illness caused by contaminated water—is on the rise in the camps. In response, the team launched a new awareness campaign to educate families on how to protect themselves and their children.

Photos: Life at the Clinic in Adré

Current conditions in the Adré camps

What began as a desperate escape from West Darfur is now a protracted humanitarian emergency. Sudanese refugees fleeing war, ethnic cleansing, and famine in Darfur face new threats like hunger, disease, and instability in eastern Chad. Women and children especially are still arriving at over 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 the crisis is staggering:

• The number of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad has surged to nearly 780,000 people.

• Over 230,000 refugees are currently settled in the Adré area, more than five times the town’s original population.

• 87% of those registered are women and children.

• 13% 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 approach one million people.

Local infrastructure was never designed to support this size population with this many unique needs. Resources are stretched thin and access to safe drinking water is limited. While some refugees have been relocated to more organized settlements, many remain in overcrowded and under-resourced sites. Beyond immediate requirements for food, water, and medical care, there is an urgent need for shelter, as many refugees live in makeshift structures vulnerable to the elements and more are still arriving

With regard to safety, while it is much more secure here than RSF-controlled areas of Darfur, many of the refugees feel vulnerable. Adré sits just a few miles inside Chad’s porous border with Sudan and, while the Chadian government has troops monitoring parts of the border, RSF fighters can still easily slip into the country. Small numbers of RSF fighters have been spotted in eastern Chad, and some refugees have even received death threats from the paramilitaries.

These heroes need your help

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

With more support, these programs can expand to reach even more people in need. 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 to these people 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

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Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence with Adré in the memo line and mail to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.

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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• When war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, Darfur quickly became the epicenter of some of the worst atrocities in modern history. Refugees arriving in Chad speak in hushed voices of mass killings, starvation deaths, and unimaginable loss and suffering. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/adre-childrens-feeding-program-and-clinic-update-april-2025

• Over 230,000 Sudanese refugees have fled into Adré, eastern Chad. 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-april-2025

• From wound care and emergency treatment to 1,100+ meals served in a single week—our partners on the ground in Adré are doing incredible work. But the need is growing. Help us keep the clinic and feeding center open. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/adre-childrens-feeding-program-and-clinic-update-april-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 that hope alive. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/adre-childrens-feeding-program-and-clinic-update-april-2025