News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
War clouds loom over Sudan's Nuba Mountains
The multi-year ceasefire between Khartoum and the Nuba Mountains is collapsing, threatening to spread the war between former regime security forces to yet another region of the country.
Nuba fighters in Kauda, Nuba Mountains of Sudan. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
The multi-year ceasefire between Khartoum and the Nuba Mountains region of Sudan is at risk of collapsing, threatening to spread the war between former regime security forces to yet another region of the country.
Sudan has not had a functioning government since mid-April, when the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began fighting each other for control of the country. The extreme violence has been most severe in Khartoum and the oppressed western Darfur region, where thousands of people have been murdered in a RSF-backed genocide in El-Geneina. More than 2.5 million Sudanese have been displaced across the country.
Rising Tensions in Nuba
The Nuba Mountains are nestled in South Kordofan state in southern Sudan. This is the area where most of our Sudanese partners work. The mountains are practically autonomous after decades of armed resistance to military rule. Several dozen African tribal groups who live here can trace their beautiful history back more than 2,000 years. The 1.3 million Christian, Muslim, and traditionalist Nuba people live mostly in harmony together.
The Sudanese army and their paramilitary allies committed a genocide against the Nuba people in the 1990s and another genocidal war in the 2010s. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 2016. Today, the area is governed by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), the powerful Nuba armed resistance force that developed during previous wars.
Tensions have been escalating between Khartoum and the Nuba Mountains since October 2021, when the army and RSF overthrew Sudan’s transitional government. When the regime collapsed in April and the army-RSF war began in earnest, the region was largely spared from the extreme violence. The SPLM-N has reported that nearly 200,000 displaced Sudanese have fled into the Nuba Mountains since early May.
Clashes near the western front
Insecurity in western South Kordofan has worsened over the past few weeks as fighting between the army and RSF encroached on the area. The highway between Dilling and the state capital of Kadugli further south has fallen prey to bandits and small RSF units. This not only poses a danger to thousands of people using the road to flee heavy fighting in Khartoum and El-Obied further north, but it has also disrupted trade and contributed to growing economic scarcity in southern Sudan. Pricing of basic goods in Dilling have almost doubled.
Reported fighting as of June 23, 2023. Click or tap to zoom.
On June 8, the Nuba government began mobilizing its forces after skirmishes broke out between army soldiers and SPLM-N fighters near Kadugli. The cause of the fighting is unknown, but the SPLM-N quickly gained the upper hand and took three small villages outside the state capitol. The situation has deteriorated since.
Over the past several days fighting has fanned out along the route between Dilling and Kadugli. The SPLM-N claims to control most of the road. On Wednesday Nuba fighters reached the outskirts of Dilling and briefly breached army defenses, seizing the central police station before withdrawing. No civilian casualties were reported during the SPLM-N’s time in the city, but a number of casualties were reported among the army.
Complicating this situation is the arrival of a larger RSF force in the area. RSF paramilitaries plundered the town of Debebad north of Dilling a week ago and raped three women. They also defeated army units at Teiba military base near Dilling and are consolidating their control, likely before moving south against Dilling.
On Thursday, the RSF also exchanged artillery fire with the army near Kadugli, the latter of which has reportedly abandoned their base in the south of the city and sent in warplanes to bomb nearby SPLM-N and RSF positions. Residents said the army had deployed reinforcements in the city Thursday as SPLM-N units approached from the south and east and the RSF from the west and northwest.
A Three-sided War?
There is still no reported aerial bombardment in areas of the Nuba Mountains firmly under SPLM-N control, which was the cause of much of the humanitarian crisis during the last war in the 2010s. Prices of basic goods are going up though, and there is rising concern the ceasefire will not be restarted.
It’s doubtful the army can commit military assets to a war against the Nuba Mountains right now, especially considering they remain engaged in heavy fighting with the RSF in Darfur and Khartoum. It’s also unclear how long the army can hold Kadugli and Dilling against both the SPLM-N and RSF. If the army begins to lose ground in South Kordofan, there is a high chance the Nuba SPLM-N and RSF will be fighting each other as well as the army in the near future. The army is more or less a buffer between the two right now due to their base and resupply locations.
What the RSF aims to achieve in South Kordofan is a mystery. Perhaps it’s to knock out two army garrisons or solidify another supply route to El Obied and Khartoum further north. Whatever the RSF commanders’ decision to enter South Kordofan now is, it seems unlikely the SPLM-N will allow the paramilitaries to get too close to their borders, especially considering the RSF’s atrocious history in the area.
So, where is all this heading? While the army and RSF’s past wars in the region have been incredibly destructive, none went as planned or achieved their ultimate aims. The Nuba SPLM-N is better armed, controls more territory, and is more entrenched in their mountain strongholds than ever before. Time will tell if the western front expands further and for how long. Until then, our Sudanese partners’ worries and the costs for just about everything are going up.
We Need Your Help
In our 12 years of working alongside Sudanese heroes, we’ve never seen anything like this. Extreme violence is spreading across Sudan. Entire cities and villages are being destroyed. Program costs are skyrocketing.
Our Sudanese partners are struggling. They need 100 of us to start giving at least $50/month to continue their critical education and healthcare work and reach more people in need. ⚡️This is a big matching campaign!⚡️ Every new monthly gift will be matched by a generous private donor for 3 months.
The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese teachers and healthcare professionals. When we match their grit with a monthly financial commitment, we become an unstoppable force for good.
98 more monthly givers are needed.
You’ll receive updates from our partners, a donation receipt each month, and an annual giving statement. Giving monthly also comes with perks!
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Make a check payable to Operation Broken Silence and mail it to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900
Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give
Nuba Education Update - June 2023
Get the latest news from our education program in the Nuba Mountains and Yida Refugee Camp.
Friends and supporters,
We have some wonderful updates from the teachers who serve in our education program below, but we first need to acknowledge what a difficult time this is for the Sudanese people.
Two months after regime security forces began fighting each other across the country, the situation in the Nuba Mountains and Yida Refugee Camp remains tense, but peaceful. The schools we support have not been hit by the escalating conflict; however, program expenses are going up due to the war. Fuel has doubled in price and the costs of some basic supplies are up roughly 50%. We’re beginning to see small numbers of refugee families arriving in Yida from elsewhere in Sudan, too.
Can you make a quick donation to these heroes of education? Your gift will be matched by a private donor! The schools need to stay fully operational despite rising costs, and it is critical to support change makers on the ground in this moment of severe crisis.
$200 provides a teacher's salary for one month.
$150 helps deliver new chalkboards and repair classrooms.
$100 provides pencils, notebooks, and other basic school supplies.
$50 gives the gift of sport by providing nets, balls, and more.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Make personal and DAF checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Education in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900.
Start a fundraising page and ask friends to give!
Join The Renewal, our monthly giving family that never stops fighting for change.
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Okay, now for the updates.
In 2015, Operation Broken Silence began funding four Sudanese teachers in Yida Refugee Camp. They were giving lessons underneath a tree with a broken chalkboard. They had no textbooks, paper, pencils…nothing.
With your support, their small but bold effort has blossomed into the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools. 24 Nuba teachers work here every day —supported by an additional 6 staff— and they run the show, not us. Over 750 students are currently in their classrooms every week. Endure Primary is the top performing elementary school in the region and a treasured possession of the Nuba community. Renewal Secondary is the only fully-functioning high school in Yida. More than 10,000 children have been served by the school to date.
Operation Broken Silence is the only organization in the world supporting childhood education in Yida Refugee Camp. Beyond these schools, we support Yida’s only other secondary school, a national exam preparation program for all primary school students at other schools in Yida, and deliver classroom supplies to other schools in Yida and the Nuba Mountains. It’s been a busy, but fruitful year so far.
Amjuma’s Story
Amjuma was born in Yida Refugee Camp. Her family arrived in Yida nearly 9 years ago after the Sudanese government bombed their village. She has never seen her homeland, saying:
“My mother talks about home a lot but the people fighting in Sudan make her worried. We will stay here until it is quiet. I know Yida is not my true home.”
Today, as her family waits to return to the Nuba Mountains, Amjuma is enrolled at the Endure Primary School. She loves her teachers and the friends she has made here. Both provide a sense of normalcy in a time of great upheaval in Sudan.
“The teachers are always here before the students. They smile as we walk in every day. ‘Let’s prepare you to change our country!’ they say. I want to be a teacher one day. They can change our nation in ways the men with guns never will.”
Recent News
Schools In Yida. It’s been a bittersweet year as many families have departed Yida and returned to their villages in the Nuba Mountains. Attendance at Endure Primary is hovering at almost 500 students daily, while Renewal Secondary is holding steady at 260 students daily.
Repairs were recently completed in classrooms at Renewal Secondary that needed extra support. This included more weatherproofing, new roofs, and 3,000 new bricks made for replacement walls. This was made possible with some extra giving from our donors. The teachers and students thank you!
In May, the teachers at Renewal Secondary hosted another community-wide health awareness workshop for students, their parents, and close friends. This workshop covered basic sanitation practices and latrine-use. And annual sports activities have also kicked off at the schools! Here are a few photos from a recent soccer match.
Broader Education Support In Yida. Endure Primary School continues to serve as the central national exam preparation facility for primary students in Yida. The camp’s eight other primary schools receive support and resources annually for student test prep. This ancillary program has positively impacted nearly 700 additional students this year!
The only other high school in Yida remains afloat with our support. Vision Secondary School was founded several years ago with pledges of support from other outside nonprofits and churches, none of which materialized. Sadly, this is but one chapter in a long history of unfulfilled promises to the Nuba people. This isn’t the first mess created by others that our Nuba education partner is having to clean up. Some of the teachers we support at Renewal Secondary are serving in classrooms at Vision to fill gaps left behind by Vision’s unpaid teachers who have since left. The temporary assistance we are providing is bringing much needed stability to students there.
Classroom Supply Delivery In Yida And Nuba. Our Nuba education partner is also delivering a limited amount of school supplies to other schools in Yida, most of which operate with little to no outside support as well. Additional supplies are also being delivered to the new Tabulla Primary School in the Nuba Mountains. This is one of the villages that will also benefit from the water project we just wrapped up fundraising for. To date, a number of items have been delivered to these other schools including books, chalk, sporting equipment, and other basic supplies like pencils and paper.
Photo: Students at the Endure Primary School in Yida Refugee Camp.
How You Can Help
Funding for the teachers and students remains an uphill battle due to the war in Ukraine, which is sucking up much of the attention of globally-minded donors. Rising costs coupled to fewer donations means our Nuba education partner is running on roughly 65% of the funding they need. The good news is that this is a problem you can help us solve.
The best way to help is to join The Renewal. This is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting teachers and kids in Yida. When we match their grit with a monthly financial commitment, we become an unstoppable force for good.
You’ll receive a donation receipt each month and an annual giving statement at the beginning of each year. Giving monthly also comes with perks!
Membership Perks
Members of The Renewal are the top supporters in our movement! When you join the family, you’ll receive:
The Renewal is a big deal around here.
The Renewal giving family is sending tens of thousands of dollars to Nuba teachers every year. Will you join us?
What To Wear: Soirée For Sudan 2023
Not sure what to wear for the big night? We have you covered!
The 11th annual Soirée For Sudan is Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, TN.
The evening is about the incredible 24 Nuba teachers at the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools in Yida Refugee Camp. It’s about the 900 students there who want to build a better Sudan. And it’s about generous supporters like you. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, now is the time!
Roaring 20s Theme
This was the theme of our 2018 gala and supporters have been asking to do it again ever since! You can tap or click on photos from that year’s event below to get an idea of what we mean by Roaring 20s. We’ve also included some descriptions you may find helpful.
Ladies, this was the era of the flapper! Think glitz and glam dresses and accessories. Try incorporating fringe, beading, gemstones, or feathers into your outfit. Beaded or feather headbands, long pearl necklaces, long gloves, and drop earrings are also some good ideas.
Gents, you can go as sophisticated as a three-piece suit or a bit less dressy with slacks, dress shirts with a snazzy tie or bow tie, and suspenders. A great idea for an accessory is a 1920s-style hat, such as a fedora with a wide brim or a homburg.
It’s hard to believe we’re celebrating 11 years of Soirée For Sudan. We’re looking forward to seeing all of you beautiful people Saturday, October 7 at Crosstown Arts!
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot us a quick message. Talk to you soon.
Cheers,
Anya & Mark
Sudan Emergency - $15,000 Donation Match!
A generous private donor is responding to urgent needs in Sudan by matching all donations to our Sudanese partners, up to $15,000 total.
Campaign Update: Donations are no longer being matched through this campaign. Thank you to everyone who gave. Check out our new Sudan Forever campaign for another big match opportunity!
Friends and supporters,
This time of extreme crisis is making the work of our Sudanese partners more difficult. We are receiving requests to fund emergency needs that include evacuations, medical supplies, and more. And basic program costs are rising due to the war; fuel alone has nearly doubled in price.
The military generals responsible for this violence have no vision for Sudan, only a vision for themselves that has led to the senseless deaths of countless people.
Our Sudanese partners don’t know when this will end, but their vision for a healthy and whole Sudan remains resolute. This is the way. They need our help in this time of severe crisis.
A generous private donor is responding to these urgent needs by matching all donations to our Sudanese partners, up to $15,000 total. When you donate, so do they. Give now to double your impact!
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Personal checks and gifts from donor-advised funds can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900.
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You will receive a tax receipt at the email address you provide. Stock and crypto charitable donations are processed by The Giving Block and are nonrefundable.
Mutual Funds
To donate a mutual fund, download our Investment Fund Transfer Form and complete the process. Your broker can help with the electronic transfer. Mutual fund charitable donations are nonrefundable.
It’s been a long few weeks for our friends in Sudan. There’s still so much uncertainty ahead, too.
Let’s each play our small part in giving them the best chance for real, lasting change. I hope you will join me in making a matched donation today.
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director
Answering your questions on the crisis in Sudan
We’re now well over a month into fighting between regime forces across Sudan.
Friends and supporters,
We’re well over a month into fighting between regime forces across Sudan. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) —the country’s official military— and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) show no signs of backing down.
The volume of your questions has intensified alongside this crisis. Our veteran supporters know that communication is especially important in times like these, which is why I am answering the most common questions you’ve sent us with as much transparency and honesty as we can. Let’s jump in.
What’s the current situation on the ground?
Answering this question largely depends on where you are in Sudan. Overall though, things are bad and likely to get worse in the near term.
The U.S. and Saudi-brokered temporary ceasefire seems to be collapsing in Khartoum. Fighting in the capitol has been destructive, with airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire hitting civilian homes, hospitals, and schools. Shelling and gunfire could be heard just west of central Khartoum today, with columns of black smoke rising up into the sky.
This map by @truecope does not provide every little detail of the current situation, but it does a decent job of giving you a 30,000 foot view. You can use the navigation tools to zoom into the capitol and other areas. Green is SAF-controlled areas, red the RSF.
The situation in the oppressed western Darfur region can only be described as a nightmare. This is where the Rapid Support Forces were born during the Darfur genocide many years ago and still hold sway today. Violence in Darfur appears to be worsening at a rapid pace, especially in urban areas where SAF has bases.
The West Darfur city of El Geneina has been plunged into a communications blackout for several days now. One of our contacts who recently escaped El Geneina described the city and surrounding areas as a “bloodbath,” with soldiers on both sides “completely lacking humanity.” A local community organization has described the situation as a “Rwanda genocide scenario.” It is likely that 70,000-80,000 people have fled the city and surrounding areas in the last few weeks. We cannot confirm the death count, but our contact and open source information suggest more than 2,000 people have been murdered by Sudanese security forces here. The scale of war crimes being committed in El Geneina is truly shocking.
Zalingei in Central Darfur is now surrounded by RSF paramilitaries and basic services there have collapsed. Communication to Nyala in South Darfur is increasingly difficult, with heavy artillery and gunfire on the outskirts of the city. Over 100 people have been killed in the crossfire in Nyala, with hundreds more wounded or missing. The city’s markets have been plundered by SAF and RSF troops and over 500 homes destroyed or damaged. El Fasher in North Darfur has also been hit with rolling battles.
The systematic and indiscriminate targeting of civilians by regime forces is becoming a central feature of this new war, threatening to unleash a refugee crisis at a scale we have not seen in years. We expect that the temporary humanitarian ceasefire in place right now will collapse completely in the coming days. In summary, this crisis is likely going to get much worse before it begins to ease.
Is there any reason to hope right now?
Absolutely yes, and I’m not writing that just to make you feel better. History shows that change in Sudan will never come from the top down, but the bottom up. Every time Sudan has taken a step forward, it is because of the Sudanese people. When bombs rained down on communities in the Nuba Mountains, teachers moved their classes to the safety of caves and refugee camps. The doctors and nurses at the only hospital refused to leave. Thousands of ordinary people took up arms to protect their homes. The regime lost the war.
When people across Sudan protested, long-time dictator Bashir was forced out. When the transitional government the Sudanese people fought so hard for was overthrown, a nationwide pro-democracy movement kept the revolution alive. Now the regime’s own hatreds have turned inward, with the generals fighting between themselves. For three decades now, millions of ordinary people in Sudan have been standing up to this regime in ways big and small. They’re still standing today, which means there is still hope.
How has the war impacted Operation Broken Silence’s program partners?
There is a weariness in our partners and contacts right now. We’ve alluded to this in previous updates; but, out of all the crises they’ve seen, this one is undoubtedly the most senseless and destructive. There are some flashes of anger and sadness, but our folks on the ground are mostly just tired of this regime’s existence.
The work of our Sudanese partners is becoming more difficult. The bulk of our program partners reside in the southern Nuba Mountains, which has not been directly impacted by the violence yet. Basic program costs are rising there due to the war though. The price of fuel alone has more than doubled. Giving is up from what it usually is, but not enough to cover the surge in costs.
Additionally, it’s a bit of an open secret that Operation Broken Silence quietly supports a small number of private, Sudanese-led programs elsewhere in the country. These partners were in very high-risk areas even before this crisis and have now scaled back or temporarily halted operations due to regime violence. We also have a loose network of contacts across Sudan that keep us and each other apprised of what’s happening in their neck of the woods. Our contacts are either sheltering in place, fleeing to safer locations with our financial assistance, or nervously watching to see if fighting will show up on their doorsteps.
Thankfully, we can report that we have not lost a partner or contact to the violence. A few of our people have lost loved ones though, and all of them have lost contact with at least a few family members and friends. The burden our partners and contacts carry has never been light, but it feels especially heavy now.
What’s the best way to help?
A generous private donor is responding to these urgent needs by matching all donations to our Sudanese partners, up to $15,000 total. When you donate, so do they. Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Are there concerns the war will reach the Nuba Mountains?
There is a low risk of the violence spreading to the region of Sudan most of our programs are in. The Nuba Mountains are largely autonomous with its own government and standing army. This is one of the few places in Sudan that has successfully pushed back multiple regime onslaughts over the decades. Neither the Sudanese military nor the RSF seem particularly keen on starting another war with the well-armed Nuba that they would almost certainly lose.
That said, things in Sudan can change very quickly. If regime infighting does reach Nuba borders, there is a chance of that spiraling into a confusing conflict in the region, although what would be more likely is Nuba self-defense forces merely protecting their borders. Again though, this all seems unlikely at the moment. The Nuba people have long wanted Sudan’s generals to just leave them alone, and both SAF and RSF commanders seem perfectly fine with obliging, for now.
What do we know about the two generals who started this mess?
At the risk of being snarky, SAF General Burhan and RSF commander Hemeti are exactly who you likely think they are. Both men were in the upper echelons of the Bashir regime and have been linked to war crimes in Darfur for years. If the abysmal state of Sudan’s economy and widespread social unrest leading up to this war are any signs of their governing capabilities —and they are— then both men are also remarkably incompetent when it comes to basic governance. Considering the current situation, that’s not exactly surprising.
The vast majority of the Sudanese people don’t want either of these men to rule Sudan. They want democracy and the ability to choose their own leaders. If one of these men wins this war in a decisive manner, which seems increasingly unlikely, he will be facing a seething pro-democracy movement and broader civilian population that hates or distrusts him.
How long will the fighting continue?
We don’t know. Multiple ceasefire attempts have temporarily reduced the violence in Khartoum for a few hours at a time, but fighting keeps roaring back. International efforts to silence the guns have had little to no temporary impact outside of the capitol.
Most concerning for us is that Burhan and Hemeti do not have full control of their own troops. This has been an issue across Sudanese security forces for years and, specific to the RSF, that is by design.
The technical term for this is command and control. When a general or commander gives an order, do units obey? Do they even get the order? In this case, not always. Even if Burhan and Hemeti get serious about a ceasefire, it could take weeks for them to reign their soldiers in. Every bullet fired during a ceasefire threatens to destroy any agreement made.
How do we describe the violence? Is this a civil war or something else?
There’s understandably a lot of confusion about how to label this conflict. Most civil wars today are between a country’s government and an organized armed rebellion. The fighting in Sudan is strictly between regime security forces or, in other words, the government itself. Both sides trying to delegitimize the other in the attached war of words doesn't change the fact that they are both part of the same regime.
Civil wars scholar James Fearon has previously defined a civil war as "a violent conflict within a country fought by organized groups that aim to take power at the center or in a region, or to change government policies." Civil wars in the context of Sudan have historically been decades-long conflicts. On our end, we’ve decided to hold off on using the term civil war for now because it’s still too early to tell where this is all heading. Technically though, you could call this the early stages of a civil war if you wanted to.
Is the United States doing anything?
Yes. U.S. diplomats are some of the primary leaders of ceasefire talks in Jeddah. The State Department recently announced $245 million in additional humanitarian support to the people of Sudan and neighboring countries taking in refugees. For more details about what the U.S. government is doing, check out our recent blog post on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Sudan.
Get Involved
Operation Broken Silence has been working next to our Sudanese partners on the ground for over a decade. Our mission of empowering local solutions has always been focused on the long run.
The fastest way to help our Sudanese partners and contacts is to make a quick donation online, or setup a small monthly gift to help provide them the consistent support they need. A generous private donor is matching all donations, up to $15,000 total. Give now to double your impact!
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give
Make a check payable to Operation Broken Silence and mail it to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900
Operation Broken Silence is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
I know this is a distressing time, but our mission remains unchanged. Let’s each play our small part in giving our friends in Sudan the best chance for real, lasting change. I hope you will join me in making a matched donation today.
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director
Mother of Mercy Hospital Update - May 2023
Get the latest news from the only hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan.
Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan serves as the backbone of the healthcare system in this fragile region. The main referral facility in Gidel and its string of community clinics serve over 150,000+ patients year. The local staff perform operations, battle cancer and preventable diseases, and bring children into the world every day.
We have some wonderful updates from the hospital staff below, but we first need to acknowledge what a difficult time this is for the Sudanese people.
Nearly one month after regime security forces began fighting each other across the country, the situation in the Nuba Mountains remains peaceful. The hospital has not been hit by the escalating conflict, but costs of most supplies are increasing, with prices of food and fuel already doubling. The staff has not seen patients from conflict-affected regions yet, but there will likely be an influx of patients if the fighting drags on.
The military generals responsible for this violence have no vision for Sudan, only a vision for themselves that has led to the senseless deaths of countless people. Can you make a quick donation to the team at the hospital? This is one of the few medical facilities in Sudan that is still fully operational and they need help with rising costs.
Your gift of $113 pays a nurse aide’s salary for an entire month.
Your gift of $226 provides a safe C-section for moms in Nuba.
Your gift of $3,180 provides a registered nurse’s salary for a full year!
Your donation of $5,000 gives a full day of care for all patients at the hospital, which equates to 216 outpatient visits, 7 surgeries, 10 admissions, and 2 safe deliveries.
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Photo provided by Dr. Tom Catena
Jeremiah’s Story
Several times a year, medical director Dr. Tom Catena shares a story of one of their patients or a member of the local staff who is leaving a lasting impression on this vibrant community:
Recently, 12-year-old Jeremiah arrived at Gidel in excruciating pain in his abdomen. Everyone in the hallways of the hospital could hear his cries of agony, and those of us close to him could see the pain resonating on his face. As we began to assess Jeremiah, his concerned mother shared that he had suffered a hard fall while playing football. From his agony, we assumed his injury had taken place that morning. But his mother explained that it occurred two months ago.
Jeremiah's mother added that he had been crying in agony for several weeks and that he could barely sleep. Understanding Jeremiah's level of pain, his mother took him to a local dispensary. But they couldn't help. As you know, many dispensaries here in Africa simply don't have the resources needed to help those who come in with complicated conditions. So, the dispensary referred him to a clinic in Tangal.
As the days became weeks and the weeks became months, Jeremiah's pain was relentless. And like many others before him, when he arrived at the clinic in Tangal, they could not provide relief.
Imagine being Jeremiah's mother and the feelings of helplessness that rise up within one's spirit as your child looks to you for help, but you cannot provide it. I know I share this often, but it is very common for patients in this region to make hours-long journeys to seek urgent, life-saving medical care. In fact, as I write, there are patients walking mile after mile carrying a family member to Gidel. It happens all the time– this is how Jeremiah ended up in our care. Finally, Jeremiah and his mom had a chance to receive answers and, most importantly, experience relief.
Our team provided him with pain management, comfort, and a plan of action. Thanks to friends like you, we performed an exploratory laparotomy to evaluate his abdomen. This procedure uncovered an enlarged spleen. The team was able to provide relief and healing to Jeremiah’s discomfort. Two months later, he was able to go home. Without your support, Jeremiah, and so many others like him, could still be suffering.
As you might imagine, the life of a twelve-year-old in Nuba is drastically different from that of preteens enjoying a carefree life in many other regions of the world. No one should have to wait two months for urgent medical care. No one. Unfortunately, it's the unacceptable norm that happens every day here in Nuba.
But your generosity is changing this story. With your partnership, we plan to make such cases a thing of the past. I am so grateful for you. Today, Jeremiah can get back to enjoying the normalcy of everyday life: playing football and simply enjoying his childhood.
Photo provided by Dr. Tom Catena
Recent News
The hospital staff remains incredibly busy. For example, in February alone the staff provided care to 5,728 outpatients and admitted 545 more into the hospital. 245 eye surgeries and 244 general operations were performed and the staff delivered 50 babies, including 16 by C-section. The costs of providing this level of care are going up because of the war, but this important work continues.
Many of the tools and other resources that are part of the multi-org project Operation Broken Silence recently managed funds for have arrived at the hospital. These were items that couldn’t be sourced locally and are now being put to good use to improve and expand the hospital’s infrastructure.
The new delivery room and surgical theaters are now completed and, with better access to clean water and electricity, the new labour ward is a vast improvement over the old one. A team is now building an 80-bed children’s ward as the current pediatric ward often has two children and adults per bed. Once completed, this will greatly enhance the staff’s ability to care for the children they serve.
Meanwhile at the new clinical school, the team finished off a month of clinical placement with the students and are wrapping up the second semester, we give thanks for how the school continues to move forward. The building team is also constructing new dorms to make room for up to thirty local maternal and child health nurses to join the school this summer. Mother of Mercy has slowly been growing into being a teaching hospital for years and is now on the cusp of fully becoming one.
The vision of a brighter future through improved healthcare is finally becoming a reality, but there is much work left to be done.
Construction of new children’s ward. Photo provided by hospital.
Get Involved
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our supporters have unique opportunities to empower the staff at Mother of Mercy Hospital.
This critical healthcare facility is funded by private supporters from around the world. The fastest and easiest way to help is to make a quick one-time donation online or start a fundraising campaign to help provide the hospital’s team the support they need.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Hospital in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900