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Leaked UN report exposes hellish atrocities in Sudan
The document was prepared by a five-member panel of monitors appointed by the Security Council. As of the time of this posting, the UN has not released it to the public.
Editor’s Note: We believe that it is important to bear witness to the atrocities underway in Sudan. This update and report includes disturbing images and language. We ask that you bear witness with us. If you are unable to out of concern for your mental health, we encourage you to read our Sudan Crisis Guide here instead. Thank you.
Photos: Imagery of reported site of alleged body disposal near El Geneina in Darfur taken 25 June 2023, 12 Aug 2023, and 06 Sep 2023. Survivors and eyewitnesses report at least 30 known mass grave sites around the city. (Sudan Conflict Observatory)
A damning report has leaked from the United Nations concerning the spiraling conflict in Sudan. The document was prepared by a five-member panel of monitors appointed by the Security Council. As of the time of this posting, the UN has not released it to the public.
Several news agencies and a growing number of people in human rights, humanitarian, and advocacy communities are in possession of the report. We have posted the full 47-page document below. A summary of some key points can be found as well.
The El Geneina Massacre: 10,000-15,000 Killed
When the civil war began in Khartoum on April 15, 2023, fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) quickly spread to the western Darfur region. It was immediately clear that the RSF was going to use the fog of war to target the region’s historic ethnic African minorities, who have been oppressed by the RSF for years.
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Between April and June of 2023, the UN monitors write that El Geneina in West Darfur descended into "intense violence" (pg.18). The African Masalit tribe was the primary target of ethnic cleansing, which was led by the RSF and their local Arab militia allies. It is noteworthy that the panel describes preparations for the massacre began weeks before the war even began:
“The attacks were planned, coordinated, and executed by RSF and their allied Arab militias…The largest mobilization (of Arab militia) within El Geneina took place weeks before 15 April, when clashes in Khartoum commenced, and went on until 24 April. These militias were assembled in various areas in El Geneina and surrounding areas…
RSF established local headquarters in neighbourhoods that served as operational centres. Amir Masar (Arab militia leader and recruiter) frequently visited some of these headquarters, distributing weapons, and coordinating RSF-militia. In addition, allied militias established their own operational centres which were frequently visited by RSF officers for coordination purposes.
Map: Key locations mentioned in this summary. Click or tap to expand. (Operation Broken Silence)
The ethnic cleansing of El Geneina seems to have been planned in great deal by the RSF and their allies, with the apparent aim to maximize their destruction of the Masalit people:
“Between 24 April and 19 June, the city of El Geneina in West Darfur underwent a period of intense violence. This was followed by the takeover of SAFs' 51 Division in Ardamatta on 4 November by RSF. Historic ethnic tensions between communities were instrumentalised by prominent military, political, and traditional leaders for their own political and economic gain. RSF and allied militia deliberately targeted civilian neighbourhoods, IDP gathering sites, and IDP camps, schools, mosques, and hospitals, while looting homes, INGOs and UN compounds. Furthermore, they deliberately rendered useless water pumps that were vital for the survival of the community. RSF and allied militia deliberately targeted Masalit community…
There were 120 IDP gathering sites in El Geneina locality, hosting over 80,000 people, mostly Masalit, who were displaced in previous attacks on their community. During the recent violence, these IDP gathering sites were systematically attacked, looted, burnt and destroyed. The severe and widespread attacks on these sites and neighbourhoods caused renewed displacement.”
Civilians sought shelter in various schools and mosques, with the Azahara girls' boarding school in Al Madaris becoming a large gathering site housing an esimated 1,000 families, over 5,000 people. Next to it, the Algadima school, sheltered 3,500 families. These sites and others were bombed with heavy artillery and mortar. On 12 June, witnesses relayed that approximately 26 bombs hit IDP gathering sites in one day. Although exact numbers were difficult to establish, witnesses reported significant number of deaths and injured, including women and children, some estimating between 60 and 70 casualties daily…
Following the killing of the Wali, Masalit and other African communities decided to seek protection at Ardamatta. At midnight, a convoy of thousands of people, including women, children, injured, elderly, vehicles, and animals moved from Al Madaris and Al Jamarek neighbourhoods towards Ardamatta. When reaching Ashati area and Anasim bridge, RSF and allied militia indiscriminately opened fire on the convoy. Survivors reported that an estimated 1,000 people were killed.”
Photos of IDP gathering sites targeted and destroyed during the violence in El Geneina. (UN confidential source)
Despite the ethnic nature of the killings, page 21 of the report explains how brave members of El Geneina’s Arab communities refused to participate in the slaughter of their Masalit neighbors, and in some cases put themselves in harms way to save them:
“It is important to note that not all members of the Arab communities were involved in the violence, and that many actively protected the Masalit people. Masalit individuals found refuge in the homes of their Arab neighbours, who assisted them in escaping to Adré, Chad. Many Masalit leaders expressed gratitude for being released based on assurances and declarations of innocence from their Arab neighbours.”
The panel goes on to explain how the RSF and their allied Arab militias continued their ethnic cleansing campaign in great detail to the very end. From page 25:
“Between 14 and 17 June, an estimated 12,000 people, including women and children, left El Geneina for Adré (Chad) by foot. When reaching RSF checkpoints women and men were separated, harassed, searched, robbed, and physically assaulted. Young men were particularly targeted and interrogated about their ethnicity. If identified as Masalit, many were summarily executed with a shot to the head. Women were physically and sexually assaulted. Indiscriminate shootings also injured and killed women and children. All testimonies mentioned many dead bodies along the road, including those of women, children and young men.”
The UN monitors collected evidence and testimonies from over 120 interviews with victims and eyewitnesses. It was reported, consistently, that RSF and allied militias committed severe violations of international law. This appears to back up the U.S. State Department’s recent determination that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing are being committed in Sudan. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the atrocities this way: “Masalit civilians have been hunted down and left for dead in the streets, their homes set on fire, and told that there is no place in Sudan for them.”
The scale of the mass killing in El Geneina is truly shocking. The report raises the estimated death toll to 10,000-15,000 people. This is significantly higher than previous estimates, and the UN monitors came to their revised figure after talking with intelligence sources. An estimated 555,000 individuals have fled into Chad since the beginning of the conflict.
The report also provides further details on the RSF massacre of Masalit civilians in the town of Ardamatta in November, where many survivors had sought shelter. Up to 2,000 additional men, women, and children were murdered and buried in mass graves. The report points out that “A survivor interviewed by the Panel reported being detained and tortured with several hundred other detainees, of which only four escaped.”
The national death toll from the war has recently been estimated at around 12,000. Based on survivor accounts and now the UN, the mass killings in West Darfur alone eclipse the entire estimated national death toll. The much larger capital city of Khartoum is also a lawless and bloodied shell of its former self, and other cities and communities have lost countless citizens to the violence. Getting an exact death count remains impossible due to ongoing violence and perpetrators covering up and denying their crimes. What we do know is that decisive global action is still sorely needed.
International community failing to halt flow of weapons and financing
The leaked UN report goes on to confirm that weapons are still flowing freely into Sudan. Special attention is given to the United Arab Emirates, which has been flying weapons from Abu Dhabi to Amdjarass in eastern Chad. The report says the weapons and ammunition are loaded onto trucks and driven across the border into Darfur, where they are distributed to the RSF. The UAE has claimed its base at Amdjarass exists for humanitarian purposes.
The weapons shipments began as far back as June 2023 and are a violation of the UN arms embargo on Sudan. The UN monitors point out that UAE flights occurred around the exact time that advanced weaponry began being used by the RSF, including drones, multiple-rocket launchers, anti-aircraft missiles, and howitzers. These are weapons systems the RSF has traditionally never had. “This new RSF firepower had a massive impact on the balance of forces on the ground,” the report says.
The report corroborates the existence of the RSF’s massive illicit financial network, which include gold-smuggling and loaning out RSF soldiers as mercenaries. The monitors write:
"Complex financial networks established by RSF before and during the war enabled it to acquire weapons, pay salaries, fund media campaigns, lobby, and buy the support of other political and armed groups.”
They are also unsparing in their indictment of the often chaotic and unorganized diplomatic efforts to end the war:
“…an excess of mediation tracks, the entrenched positions of the warring parties, and competing regional interests meant that these peace efforts had yet to stop the war, bring political settlement or address the humanitarian crisis."
Public Photo: A picture taken on June 16, 2023 shows decaying bodies in El Geneina.
What can be done?
If the promise of never again is to become reality, then it is past time for world leaders to get physical with Sudan’s war criminals. A genocide determination has not been made with regards to Sudan, but the evidence available strongly suggests that the RSF is engaged in crimes that meet this high legal threshold.
Immediate steps the international community should take are glaringly obvious. Fully funding cash-strapped humanitarian efforts in diversified and creative ways is the lowest of the low-hanging fruit. Shutting down illicit financial flows that are funding this senseless war is another. Drastically ramping up global efforts to enforce a true arms embargo on Sudan is needed.
With regards to the latter, the obvious place to begin is putting real pressure on the UAE to end its support to the RSF. It has been known for months that the Amdjarass base in eastern Chad is the primry point for weapons flowing to the RSF. The fact that this base still exists is truly absurd.
The United States and other parties seeking a ceasefire have asked those who are funneling weapons into Sudan to knock it off. Unsurprisingly, mediocre statements aren’t getting the job done. Considering the immense loss of human life in Sudan and the destruction still underway, it is not unreasonable to expect that world powers demand the UAE stop its actions. Failure to do so should result in the international community moving forcefully to shut down the Amdjarass resupply route, either by working intensively with the government of Chad to kick the UAE out or threatening the base with direct military force.
In his December remarks about the U.S. government determining that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing are being committed in Sudan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken rightfully said:
“Today’s determination does not preclude the possibility of future determinations as additional information about the parties’ actions becomes available. The United States is committed to building on this determination and using available tools to end this conflict and cease committing the atrocities and other abuses that are depriving the Sudanese people of freedom, peace, and justice.”
It is past time that the US and others use those “available tools.” Too many Sudanese men, women, and children are dead today because of this war and the RSF’s hatred. Human life is precious and must be protected. No one can stop this war overnight, not even the generals who started it. But there are practical things world leaders can do to cripple their ability to wage war and commit atrocities, as well as help survivors and those in danger.
The only question world leaders face is if they have the willpower to turn their commitments into reality. Time will tell, but time is something the Sudanese people are already in short supply of.
Get Involved
The crisis unfolding in Sudan is the most dangerous and destructive humanitarian catastrophe in the world. Nearly 25 million Sudanese —roughly half the country— are now in need of some form of humanitarian assistance. 7 million people have been internally-displaced and nearly 1.5 million more have fled the country.
Our Sudanese partners are struggling as the war spreads and program costs skyrocket. Your generosity will help them bring lifesaving relief to those who have fled Darfur.
$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.
$50 - Helps repair classrooms in Yida damaged by seasonal rains and provide for general maintenance.
Checks can be make payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.
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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.
A damning report has leaked from the United Nations concerning the spiraling conflict in Sudan. Learn more: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/leaked-un-report-exposes-hellish-atrocities-in-sudan
Between April and June of 2023, the UN monitors write that El Geneina in West Darfur descended into "intense violence." The African Masalit tribe was the primary target of ethnic cleansing, which was led by the RSF and their local Arab militia allies. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/leaked-un-report-exposes-hellish-atrocities-in-sudan
The scale of the mass killing in El Geneina is truly shocking. The report raises the estimated death toll to 10,000-15,000 people. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/leaked-un-report-exposes-hellish-atrocities-in-sudan
The leaked UN report goes on to confirm that weapons are still flowing freely into Sudan. Special attention is given to the United Arab Emirates, which has been flying weapons from Abu Dhabi to Amdjarass in eastern Chad. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/leaked-un-report-exposes-hellish-atrocities-in-sudan
No one can stop this war overnight, not even the generals who started it. But there are practical things world leaders can do to cripple their ability to wage war and commit atrocities, as well as help survivors and those in danger. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/leaked-un-report-exposes-hellish-atrocities-in-sudan
Movement Spotlight: Gary Casady
How one runner is helping to bring education to a Sudanese refugee camp.
Operation Broken Silence is a small nonprofit with a big mission of empowering Sudanese heroes in some of the most oppressed parts of their country. We’re only able to do this with the help of our movement, which includes donors, fundraisers, volunteers, and partnerships found around the world.
We want to share a story from our movement with you today! Meet Gary Casady, one of our supporters from Oregon. Gary ran virtually in our annual 5K last fall, an event that benefits local teachers in Yida Refugee Camp. He says:
“I have had the privilege of being in Sudan and surrounding countries, so am more aware than most of the disasters that have taken place there. Our son Brian has been to the Nuba Mountains and travelled with locals who have become friends. I have been able to attend a conference in Nairobi for pastors from Sudan, so am acquainted with them and the challenges of their ministries.
I have never considered myself a fundraiser. I like the phrase "friendraiser" that I have heard others use. I just engage myself with people where I feel God is working and where He moves me to be involved. I share this with friends, giving them the opportunity to ask God if He wants them involved in some way. Then I just rest in what God provides and does.
In my weekly exercise I have a goal ‘3x3"‘, that is 3 miles three times a week. So, I have a few 5k routes marked out that I do weekly. My favorite one is the one I did for Eden's run. It is back roads that provide great scenes, hence the designation ‘Sevenmile Hill Scenic Slog.’”
Gary took one of the most innovative approaches we’ve ever seen from our virtual runners. He mapped out in detail where he would be running. In the weeks leading up to the run, he sent his course, a few pictures of it, and his fundraising page to friends and family asking them to give. Those who donated received personal thank you! Race day arrived and Gary’s wife Linda followed along to take a few photos.
By the end of his run, Gary had exceeded his $1,250 goal by raising $3,156!
Absolutely amazing! After his run, Gary emailed his supporters a touching and humorous thank you note with a few photos. Here’s what he wrote:
“Dear Friends,
We made it. Linda came along in her Subaru as my own private Paparazzi. God bless her abundantly. I came in first place to the rousing caws of ravens. You should try it sometime - design your own race and run it by yourself and you'll come in first place, hoorah. My time was a PR. How did I run so fast? It was the shoes.
We were off at 7:00am sharp as the full moon was setting in the west and the thermometer read 23F. Linda drove to critical points along the race route for photos. We arrived back home at around 7:40am. We had french toast omelets and fresh fruit for breakfast. The attached photos tell a story.
Thank you for all of your donations, encouragement, prayers and support. The cause of supporting the teachers and schools for these internally displaced kiddos is a great work in which you have all engaged. There is still time to donate through Monday.”
Gary has provided all of us a fantastic example of how to fundraise: be friendly, be direct, and have fun! His final words of encouragement for all of our fundraisers and future runners comes from his faith:
“Step into what you believe God is doing and share this with others. It is His work. He gives us the privilege to be involved. He will provide when and how He wills.”
Thank you to Gary, Linda, and all of your supporters for serving the teachers and kids in Yida Refugee Camp. The funds you raised and gave are being used to pay teacher salaries, deliver school supplies, and more. And thank you for encouraging our team with your kindness and generosity during this especially difficult season in Sudan.
Ready To Get Involved?
The current crisis unfolding in Sudan is now the most dangerous and destructive humanitarian catastrophe in the world. Nearly 25 million Sudanese —roughly half the country— are now in need of some form of humanitarian assistance. 7 million people have been internally-displaced and nearly 1.5 million more have fled the country.
Our Sudanese partners are struggling as the war spreads and program costs skyrocket. In 2024, we’re searching for 100 supporters who can give $50/month to their life-saving work. ⚡️Your first three monthly gifts will be matched by a private donor.⚡️
The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese heroes. When we match their grit with a monthly financial commitment, we become an unstoppable force for good.
91 more monthly givers are needed.
You’ll receive updates from our partners roughly every 4 months and an annual giving statement at the beginning of each year.
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
Online Donations - You can make a one-time gift above by selecting One time.
Checks - Make payable to Operation Broken Silence and mail to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.
Start a Fundraising Page - Ask friends and family to give!
Movement Spotlight: Emily Selby Smith
How one graduate student helped to expand our suite of educational resources on Sudan.
Operation Broken Silence is a small nonprofit with a big mission of empowering Sudanese heroes in some of the most oppressed parts of their country. We’re only able to do this with the help of our movement, which includes donors, fundraisers, volunteers, and partnerships found around the world.
We want to share about a recent partnership that benefits you and everyone else in our movement, and beyond! Meet Emily Selby Smith, a graduate student in the Anthropology Department at the University of Memphis:
“Currently, I am a master's student in UofM’s Applied Anthropology program. I was drawn to the department and UofM because they are deeply engaged with helping the community.
My research interests are in genocide education and recovery, so working with community organizations collaboratively is very important to me. One thing that drew me to genocide education and recovery is the need to discuss what is happening, often it can be so difficult to speak about it but with more education efforts I believe that things can change!”
Sudan is not well-known to many people, and that’s not their fault. The country is rarely in the news for sustained periods of time and makes even fewer appearances in high school and college textbooks. Learning about the diversity of people living there and their challenges is not as easy as it should be.
Emily has partnered closely with our team since May 2023 to help us begin changing that. She worked across the organization to overhaul and expand our educational materials so they can be more useful to teachers, students, and people who want to learn more:
“After some preliminary searching of what is out there, I began to interview supporters, educators, and people within the organization to understand how they used the Educators and Learners pages, what they would like to see, and what steps could be taken in the future. I then continuously worked to write, rewrite, and edit while paying attention to the images and videos we could use.
One thing that stood out to me during my research was the lack of resources on women’s experiences in Sudan. Often it can be both difficult to address and underreported, but many interviewees shared that they hoped to be able to teach about it and have the language and resources to do so. By creating a resource page specifically for women’s experience I believe that it brings together this very difficult topic to address in ways that can spark hope and change.”
As the crisis in Sudan continues to escape the world’s attention, resources like these are critical to closing knowledge gaps with veteran and new supporters alike, as well as help to bring in new faces who want to learn more and get involved. Emily says:
“Often violence does not start out of the blue, and the violence in the Nuba Mountains and Sudan highlight that. The new resources are able to inform teachers and students about the multiple and complex issues of Sudan while also presenting information about international genocide prevention and protection. By presenting both sides, I believe it shows not only what is happening but how international processes work and might bring about change in the future!”
Our desire is that partnerships with Operation Broken Silence benefit and encourage everyone involved. For Emily, that meant deepening her educational drive and benefiting others along the way:
“After speaking with teachers and supporters about how they use these resources it gave me a larger drive to continue genocide education. But also, being able to make changes based on what everyone wanted to see to benefit all in the future was such a fulfilling experience. Changing and adding resources only helps the OBS and the people of Nuba for more visibility and advocacy.”
Thank you to Emily and our friends in the Anthropology Department at the University of Memphis for helping us with this critical project. Improving our educational resources was not something we could have accomplished on our own, and we are always encouraged when we get to partner with the university.
Join Our Mission In 2024
The current crisis unfolding in Sudan is now the most dangerous and destructive humanitarian catastrophe in the world. Entire communities are being destroyed by extreme violence and hunger. Our Sudanese partners are struggling as the war spreads and program costs skyrocket.
In 2024, we’re searching for 100 supporters who can give $50/month to their life-saving work. ⚡️Your first three monthly gifts will be matched by a private donor.⚡️
The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese heroes. When we match their grit with a monthly financial commitment, we become an unstoppable force for good.
91 more monthly givers are needed.
You’ll receive updates from our partners roughly every 4 months and an annual giving statement at the beginning of each year.
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
Online Donations - You can make a one-time gift above by selecting One time.
Checks - Make payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.
Stocks & Mutual Funds - Use this giving form to donate stock. To give from a mutual fund, download our Investment Fund Transfer Form and follow the instructions. Please note that all stock and mutual fund donations are nonrefundable.
Cryptocurrency - Use this giving form to donate crypto. Please note that all crypto donations are nonrefundable.
Fundraise - Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give! These last few days of the year are the perfect time to fundraise.
Reflecting on 2023 and looking ahead
Read our annual review from our Executive Director and learn what lies ahead in 2024.
Made with Adobe Firefly. (Operation Broken Silence)
Friends and partners,
The last 12 months represent the most difficult time in Sudan’s modern history, but they’re also a testament to the unwavering determination of our Sudanese partners and dedication of our community. I am filled with gratitude as I meditate on what we accomplished together:
Childhood Education in Yida Refugee Camp. Attendance at Endure Primary School in Yida Refugee Camp climbed from almost 500 students daily to 720 by year’s end. Daily attendance at Renewal Secondary also surged nearly 70% to 437 students. And a record 43 out of the 45 students who took the Grade 8 national exam passed and are now enrolled at Renewal Secondary! A perfect score is 400 points and the five top-performing students were Yesmin Khamis Hassan (368.2), Makabula Peter Abdu (354.3), Amin Luke Nadir (353.4), Emmanuel Abdu Abdurahaman (352.5), and Sabri Andraws Junub (350). Congratulations!
Healthcare in the Nuba Mountains. The team at Mother of Mercy Hospital provided medical care to 72,000 people. This includes performing more than 2,200 surgeries and delivering 720 babies while supporting maternal recovery. The new 80-bed pediatric ward also opened and the staff doubled the number of community clinics they oversee from six to twelve. The dormitory for the hospital’s St. Bakhita Health Sciences Training Institute is now built and a second class of students (30 midwives) are already being trained.
Escape support and relief in southern Darfur. A seven-person team of Sudanese heroes helped roughly 1,900 refugees navigate targeted violence in Darfur, cross safely into South Sudan, and provided a limited amount of food and other basic necessities to those most in need. Many people who made contact with our rudimentary escape network said this was the only source of hope and help they had found since the war began in April. This brave operation was made possible in part by the wonderful generosity of our donors, who paid for fuel, food, and other materials that were used to help people find safe haven.
This is just a snapshot of what you helped our Sudanese partners accomplish in 2023. None of this would have been possible without your generous partnership! Thank you.
A Year Of Navigating Challenges
For those of you who read this annual letter, you know we don’t shy away from sharing areas that we found challenging. Despite the above wins, 2023 marked another difficult year for our mission.
The new war between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) imposed a number of security and resource challenges on all of our Sudanese partners. Even in areas where our work was not impacted directly by regime violence, prices on everything from pencils to basic medical supplies to fuel have skyrocketed.
Many of the Sudanese heroes we support did more with less as the year progressed and their purchasing power declined. Understandably, there was and is a lot of frustration at the situation imposed on them by Sudan’s now fractured regime. Much of the energy from this frustration and anger was redirected back into the work though and played an important role in saving and changing so many lives.
Outside of Sudan, the fundraising hurdles we’ve faced since 2020 remained entrenched. Three years of overblown fears of a major recession in the United States yet again failed to pan out, but this fear kept in place the overarching climate of wariness toward generosity. Many globally-minded donors remained focused on Ukraine and now the Israel/Palestine crisis. As Sudan is not in the news, the feedback we’ve received from a lot of potential supporters is that they don’t see Sudan as the gravest crisis in the world, despite all the data showing that it is. We did find some relief in inflation easing in the United States, leading to some of our longer-term supporters raising their level of generosity. This was an encouraging sign that this season we’ve been in will pass one day, even if we are unsure when.
Similar to our Sudanese partners, we faced these challenges head on as best we could. We more than tripled our outreach to potential new supporters. Membership in The Renewal monthly giving program was stable and grew slightly. We overhauled large portions of our website and messaging, which led to a slight uptick in the number of small dollar donations and new faces joining our movement. After a lot of hard work, our annual 5K finally returned to pre-pandemic fundraising levels and is poised for further growth.
Photo: Children playing after school in Yida Refugee Camp. (Operation Broken Silence)
Looking Ahead To 2024
Your collective determination has inspired us to continue adapting as we head into the new year. The war in Sudan will keep evolving, but there are no indications the violence will cease. There are also no signs that the fundraising hurdles we face will ease on their own. Based on what we learned this year, in 2024 we’ll navigate these challenges with three key principles in mind:
1. Educate, educate, educate. There has always been a sizable gap between the plight of the Sudanese people and what the American public knows. 2023 showed us that gap has widened to a catastrophic point. Few people know about events unfolding in Sudan and even fewer know enough to speak authoritatively about the crisis. This is one of the main reasons why the the Sudanese people have received scant attention. It also means we’re having to spend weeks, sometimes months, educating potential supporters before they’ll even consider getting involved.
In early 2024, we’ll be doing our part to help overcome this challenge by rolling out more robust educational resources. And throughout the year we’ll build out additional tools that anyone can use to help make some noise about Sudan.
2. Become more firmly rooted in the basics. We’ll stay focused on serving our Sudanese partners and supporters to the best of our ability one week and one month at a time. You’ll notice more communication from us in 2024 along with easier and more direct ways to help.
3. Go big on what works. In a similar vein, after three years of throwing new ideas at the wall to see what sticks, we now have a pretty good idea of what helps move our mission forward and what doesn’t. For example, we saw a lot of signs this year that our annual 5K can be a growth engine for our movement and Sudanese partners, so we’ll be leaning much harder into that event. The same with our monthly giving family, The Renewal. We’re a small nonprofit with limited resources, so pooling what we have into what works will be critical for our Sudanese partners and all of you in 2024.
As we stand on the cusp of a new year and the hope that comes with it, will you make one final gift to Operation Broken Silence?
$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.
$50 - Helps repair classrooms in Yida damaged by seasonal rains and provide for general maintenance.
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Other Ways To Give
Checks - Personal checks and grants from DAFs can be make payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.
Stocks and Mutual Funds - Use this giving form to donate stock. To give from a mutual fund, download our Investment Fund Transfer Form and follow the instructions. Please note that all stock and mutual fund donations are nonrefundable.
Cryptocurrency - Use this giving form to donate crypto. Please note that all crypto donations are nonrefundable.
Fundraise - Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give! These last few days of the year are the perfect time to fundraise.
Give Monthly - The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese heroes. Sign up here.
As we embark on a new year together, let us carry the lessons of 2023 with us and move forward with the same hope and determination our Sudanese partners have.
Thank you for standing with our friends in Sudan this year. On behalf of them, I wish you a joyous holiday season and a healthy New Year.
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director
Nuba Education Update - December 2023
Get the latest news from the Nuba teachers and students you support in Yida Refugee Camp!
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 brave effort has blossomed into the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools. 24 Nuba teachers and a headmaster work here every day. They run the show, not us, and serve 1,157 students 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 students in Yida, and deliver a limited amount of classroom supplies to the eight other schools in the camp.
Nasrah’s Story
Nasrah was born in the Nuba Mountains. Her family arrived in Yida almost 9 years ago after the Sudanese government attacked their village. She barely remembers her home, saying:
“We did not have clean water or a school near to us at home. When the Antonov (regime plane) came and dropped bombs on us we ran and my mother brought us here to Yida.”
Humanitarian conditions in Yida were rapidly improving when they arrived. Nasrah’s mom was surprised to find clean water easily accessible and multiple schools for Nasrah and her brother.
“My mother still talks about how strange it is that life is usually easier here than it was for us at home. I know she wants to go back to our land, but she does not feel secure now that there is another war.”
Like most families in Yida, they hope to return one day to their homes in the Nuba Mountains. Until then Nasrah is enrolled at the Renewal Secondary School, which is funded entirely by people just like you. Her teachers and friends provide a sense of hope in this time of great upheaval in Sudan. She says:
“Yida is home because my people and family are here. My mother and her friends talk about how much Sudan needs new leaders who care about us. At school my teachers tell us we are the future leaders and that we can end the wars one day. I have learned to read and write from them and have good grades, but having teachers and people on the other side of the world who believe in me is what I will always carry with me from this place. Thank you for joining my people’s struggles. I don’t know what would have happened to us without our teachers and all of you who hear my voice.”
Recent Updates
Schools In Yida. It’s been a bittersweet year as refugee families once again begin trickling into Yida. Children displaced by the new war in Sudan have been warmly welcomed at the schools, but the reality of the world’s most dangerous armed conflict and worst humanitarian catastrophe weighs heavy on the hearts of everyone.
Thankfully, the teachers you support are uniquely positioned to help. Attendance at Endure Primary has climbed from almost 500 students daily before the war up to 720. Daily attendance has surged nearly 70% to 437 students at Renewal Secondary. Families continue trickling into Yida and are seeking to enroll their children at both schools. The teachers have informed us they still have some breathing room; but, if education needs keep climbing as we expect, both schools will likely be at maximum capacity by Summer 2024.
Photo: Renewal Secondary students celebrate their school achieving first place in national exams. (Operation Broken Silence)
Another round of national exams were conducted in August. Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary remained the top-performing schools in the region just as they have the past several years. And a record 43 out of the 45 students who took the Grade 8 national exam passed and are now enrolling at Renewal Secondary! A perfect score is 400 points and the five top-performing students were Yesmin Khamis Hassan (368.2), Makabula Peter Abdu (354.3), Amin Luke Nadir (353.4), Emmanuel Abdu Abdurahaman (352.5), and Sabri Andraws Junub (350). Congratulations!
Earlier this year, repairs and infrastructure upgrades were completed in most classrooms at both schools. This included more weatherproofing, new roofs and over 4,500 new bricks for replacement walls. Additional materials and backup tarps are also in storage for future repairs. This was made possible with some extra giving from our donors and is already paying dividends. With costs of most supplies skyrocketing from the war, these completed upgrades have kept classrooms in good shape at a time when extra financial support for this type of critical work is difficult to come by.
Photo: Children playing in Yida Refugee Camp at the end of a school day. (Operation Broken Silence)
Broader Education Support In Yida. Endure Primary School continues serving as the central national exam preparation facility for primary students in Yida. The camp’s eight other primary schools receive support and resources annually from our teachers for student test prep. This ancillary program positively impacted 1,458 additional students this year!
Vision Secondary, the only other high school in Yida, remains afloat with help from our teachers. The school was founded several years ago with pledges of support from outside nonprofits and churches, none of which materialized. This is one chapter in a long history of unfulfilled promises to the Nuba people that our education partner is having to mitigate. The teachers at Vision are all untrained, so a handful of the teachers at Renewal Secondary have stepped in to help teach science and provide guidance and crash course training.
Our Nuba education partner continues delivering a limited amount of basic supplies to Yida’s other primary schools, most of which operate with little to no outside support. Chalk, paper, pencils and notebooks remain the most requested items. These deliveries are critical to sustaining Yida’s already fragile education system, but are becoming more difficult to pull off due to rising prices brought on by the war.
We’re working with these incredible teachers to carry the mission forward, but we need your help.
How You Can Help
2023 has been a difficult and remarkable year in Sudan. Difficult in that the regime’s civil war has inflicted unprecedented death and destruction on the Sudanese people. Remarkable in that we’ve seen more bravery, love and grit in our Sudanese partners than ever before.
Funding for the schools remains an uphill battle due to rising costs from the war. The teachers are also receiving fewer donations due to internationally-minded donors moving their focus to the wars in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine, despite the humanitarian crisis in Sudan being the worst in the world. The result is that our Nuba education partner is running on roughly 60% of the funding they need to provide a more holistic education experience for Sudan’s next generation of leaders.
The good news is that you can help them overcome these challenges. Your generosity will help our teachers and students make progress against the odds:
$2,200: Fund an entire classroom at Endure Primary for one semester.
$1,000: Support one teacher for an entire semester.
$750: Deliver three new chalkboards to classrooms.
$500: Give additional materials and extra pay to teachers who are working with students to prepare them for national exams.
$250: Provide for maintenance needs in classrooms.
$100: Give pencils, notebooks and other supplies to 16 students in Yida Refugee Camp.
$50: Give soccer balls and other sporting equipment to students.
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Other Ways To Give
Checks - Personal checks and grants from DAFs can be make payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.
Stocks and Mutual Funds - Use this giving form to donate stock. To give from a mutual fund, download our Investment Fund Transfer Form and follow the instructions. Please note that all stock and mutual fund donations are nonrefundable.
Cryptocurrency - Use this giving form to donate crypto. Please note that all crypto donations are nonrefundable.
Fundraise - Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give! These last few days of the year are the perfect time to fundraise.
Give Monthly - The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese heroes. Sign up here.
Darfur Escape Support & Relief Update - December 2023
Get the latest news from the Sudanese heroes who are saving lives in Darfur, which is being riven by war crimes.
Over the last six months, one of our private Sudanese partners has been assisting survivors as they flee the campaign of war crimes and genocide by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against ethnic African minorities in Darfur. This has been some of the most intense work we’ve seen over the last 12 years of laboring alongside Sudanese heroes. We are incredibly proud of the brave people who have worked around the clock —often at great personal risk— to help some of the most vulnerable escape safely into South Sudan.
We’d like to provide you with an important situation and programming update concerning this emergency work. Let’s start with the current situation in Darfur as a lot has shifted on the ground the past several weeks.
Situation Update
Sudan’s military regime disintegrated on April 15, 2023. The army and paramilitary RSF, the two primary groups in the regime, went to war with each for control of Sudan. Fighting has spread across the country, with millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire and ethnic minorities facing famine, war crimes, and even genocide.
The long-oppressed western Darfur region has been hit hardest by this senseless conflict. A full-blown genocide of the Masalit ethnic minority in West Darfur by the RSF appears to be underway, with tribal leaders confirming that more than 12,000 of their people having already been exterminated. The death toll in West Darfur is actually far higher as thousands more remain missing and stories of massacres continue trickling out with the stream of traumatized survivors.
Over the past few months, the catastrophe in West Darfur has extended more fully to the rest of Darfur as the RSF and their local Arab allies fight to establish dominance over all of western Sudan. The army was focused on defending their bases in Darfur’s provincial capital cities, allowing the RSF to sweep through smaller towns and rural areas that —at best— only have poorly-armed local militias and oppressive police forces to defend them. Throughout the entirety of this war, the army has shown no interest in protecting civilians, even in areas of Darfur it controlled.
A multi-week, brutal offensive by the RSF against most army positions in Darfur concluded in late October with the state capitals of Nyala and Zalingei being overrun. Since then, tens of thousands of terrified citizens across Darfur have fled as the army withdrew its remaining forces from the region. Only North Darfur and the city of El Fasher remain under the control of the army. A major RSF offensive there seems inevitable.
The RSF’s soldiers have brought chaos and destruction with them into southern Darfur, where our Sudanese partner has been working around the clock to help people flee safely into South Sudan. Like most areas of RSF-controlled Sudan, security has collapsed in southern Darfur over the last several weeks.
Photo: Armed Salamat militia ride toward Habaniya territory. (Social Media)
The RSF, which is more or less a terrorist organization, has proven to be incapable of governing. This reality can be seen easily throughout southern Darfur. The paramilitary force’s targeted killings and threats of violence have led to tens of thousands of new refugees. RSF soldiers have pillaged markets and homes, arms trafficking and other illicit industries are flourishing, and complex local conflicts have again reignited as certain ethnic groups use the fog of war to settle old scores, sometimes with backing from the RSF.
To provide just one example of the latter, in mid-November our Sudanese partner reported that hundreds of armed militiamen belonging to the Salamat and Habaniya tribes were fighting each other near the South Sudan border. Local tribal disputes, including many peaceful ones, are common in Darfur; but, what caught their attention is that this specific armed conflict was between two Arab tribes. Tensions have run high for years between the Salamat and Habaniya —mostly over land— but this round of fighting began after army forces withdrew from the area a week earlier and the RSF took over.
A video taken by a Salamat fighter and posted to social media confirms the fighting, showing members of his tribe riding on horseback toward Habaniya villages as he says “The Habaniya will be annihilated. Go, go, readiness!” Go, go, readiness is a battle cry sometimes used by the RSF, suggesting the Salamat militia has ties to the paramilitary force.
The ethnic dimensions of the RSF’s war to control Darfur are harrowing enough —as is readily apparent in the West Darfur massacres— but the group’s willingness to take sides in Arab-Arab local conflicts is a grim reminder that no one is safe as long as the RSF exists. Where the RSF goes, death and destruction follows.
Tariq’s Story *
Tariq is from Zalingei in Darfur. The city’s displacement camps were home to people who belong to African ethnic groups targeted by the RSF. “Zalingei was my home even though it was not always easy. I was arrested once before and beaten by police,” he describes.
Tariq and two of his friends fled Zalingei when the war made staying impossible. “The janjaweed stole all of our belongings but we managed to escape,” he says. Janjaweed is a term used to describe the RSF and their Arab militia allies. They left the city on foot.
Their harrowing journey through the war toward the South Sudan border took 16 days. Tariq and his friends say the army did nothing to protect anyone.
Our Sudanese partner provided them ground transport in southern Darfur and helped them cross safely into South Sudan, giving them food when they arrived. Tariq and his friends are now safe in Juba. They do not plan on returning anytime soon since the RSF now control Zalingei.
“I hope to go home one day, but we cannot go back with the janjaweed breathing threats against us,” he says. “My friends are grateful to those who helped us get out. We would be dead without them. Please tell people everywhere to give so we can help more people. We can still save many lives but it takes money to do it.”
*Tariq’s name has been changed to protect his identity.
Photo: RSF bootprints outside of a village in southern Darfur. In the final weeks of their work, team members frequently had to navigate areas that the RSF had a growing presence in. (Operation Broken Silence)
Program Update
During the past six months, our Sudanese partner’s seven person team has helped roughly 1,900 refugees fleeing RSF violence navigate parts of Central, South, and East Darfur, cross safely into South Sudan, and provided a limited amount of food and other basic necessities to those most in need.
This work has taken on a variety of creative forms, ranging from moving people on a large truck to guiding those fleeing on foot to safer routes that led to the South Sudan border. Most highways and major roads in Darfur are now overrun by the RSF and their Arab militia allies, making any travel harrowing for those belonging to targeted ethnic groups.
Many people who made contact with our rudimentary escape network said this was the only source of hope and help they had found since the war began in April. Some reported seeing RSF soldiers and their local Arab allies executing unarmed black civilians, including male babies and male children. These accounts match recent, horrifying public reporting on Arab fighters “hunting” for boys belonging to African tribal groups elsewhere in Darfur.
In November, our Sudanese partner informed us that spiraling security conditions had made continuing this program untenable. Despite often being in or near areas with a growing RSF presence, not a single member of the team was harmed or killed during this lifesaving work. The last team member crossed into South Sudan at the beginning of December, effectively bringing this escape assistance work to an end. We are now shifting to more basic humanitarian activities (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) for over 400 Darfuri refugees who have traveled all the way to Juba, South Sudan.
At their request, we aren’t releasing the names of team members or any information that can identify them. They hope to continue working in Darfur one day and their anonymity will be required to do so.
This brave and successful operation was made possible in part by the wonderful generosity of our donors, who paid for fuel, food, and other materials that were used to help people reach safety in South Sudan. Without your generous support, it is likely that some of the 1,900 people you helped would not have made it. We can’t thank you enough for your support. People are alive today because of you.
How You Can Help
2023 has been a difficult and remarkable year in Sudan. Difficult in that the regime’s civil war has inflicted unprecedented death and destruction on the Sudanese people. Remarkable in that we’ve seen more bravery, love, and grit in our Sudanese partners than ever before.
Funding for all of our programs remains an uphill battle due to rising costs from the war. Our Sudanese partners are also receiving fewer donations as internationally-minded donors focus on the wars in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine, despite the humanitarian crisis in Sudan being the worst in the world. The result is that there are currently no funds available to help the more than 400 Darfuri refugees in Juba.
The good news is that you can help. Your generosity will bring food, medicine, clothing, and more to these people in their time of greatest need:
$1,000: Gives culturally-respective, quality clothing to women in need.
$750: Delivers most basic foodstuffs needed for communal meals during cultural celebrations.
$500: Provides a daily nutritious meal to 35 children for an entire month.
$250: Gives basic medicines to the refugee community for two months.
$100: Feeds two families for one month.
$50: Feeds a family for one month.
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Other Ways To Give
Checks - Personal checks and grants from DAFs can be make payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.
Stocks and Mutual Funds - Use this giving form to donate stock. To give from a mutual fund, download our Investment Fund Transfer Form and follow the instructions. Please note that all stock and mutual fund donations are nonrefundable.
Cryptocurrency - Use this giving form to donate crypto. Please note that all crypto donations are nonrefundable.
Fundraise - Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give! These last few days of the year are the perfect time to fundraise.
Give Monthly - The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese heroes. Sign up here.