Letter to Congress and the Trump Administration regarding ICC sanctions

Photo from Canva Pro

Operation Broken Silence is joining 75 organizations in expressing grave concerns and to unequivocally oppose the use of the sanctions authority of the United States to cripple the International Criminal Court (ICC), an independent judicial institution dedicated to combating impunity for the gravest crimes known to humanity.

What does this mean?

Recent reports suggest the new Congress will include sanctions against the ICC in its first legislative action, the House Rules Package. The future of that legislation is uncertain, but the incoming Trump Administration has also given indications of sanctions through the threat of Executive Orders.

The ICC performs a critical role by investigating the worst international crimes and those accused of committing them. It does so in a manner that protects the due process rights of the accused, the sovereignty of states —including the United States— and the rights of victims. Supporting the work of the Court is in the interest of the United States, while sanctioning it undermines core aspects of American foreign policy.

Known as the world’s “court of last resort,” the ICC has already been recognized as playing a positive role in previous bipartisan support for investigations into war crimes allegedly perpetrated by Russian officials in Ukraine, attempts to bring justice for victims of human rights violations in Myanmar, and as a pathway to accountability for perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan.

Sudan is currently home to the world’s largest human rights and humanitarian catastrophe. Since April 2023, extreme violence between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has all but destroyed the country. Mass atrocities, gross human rights violations, and manmade famine have forcibly displaced more than 15 million people. There is mounting evidence that the RSF has committed crimes that meet the high legal threshold of genocide. Over half the country is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, with a handful of areas having descended into full-blown famine months ago.

The United Nations Security Council referred the situation in Darfur, Sudan to the ICC in March 2005. The Court exercises jurisdiction over such crimes committed in western Sudan since July 1, 2002. As we have previously noted, the ICC’s investigations in Sudan not only remain ongoing, but stands to benefit from closer cooperation with the U.S. government. The State Department’s recent genocide determination suggests the U.S. government has hard evidence of atrocity crimes that could greatly assist the Court.

U.S. sanctions tools designed to penalize gross violators of human rights should not be used to contribute to their continued impunity. Sanctions send a signal that could embolden authoritarian regimes and others with reason to fear accountability who seek to evade justice. It is essential that the United States answer any allegation of wrongdoing in a manner that does not betray the cause of global justice, abandon international cooperation, or compromise support for human dignity and rights.

Get Involved

We’re a nonprofit organization with over a decade of experience working alongside Sudanese heroes. Together we are making the story of Sudan known and supporting survivors as they build a renewed Sudan from the ground up. And we need your help.

Our Sudanese partners are overwhelmed with needs as the war spreads and hunger deepens. Your generosity will help them serve the most vulnerable in this time of tremendous need.

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.

Join Miles For Sudan | Donate Stock or Crypto

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

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

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

• Operation Broken Silence is joining 75 organizations in expressing grave concerns and to unequivocally oppose the use of the sanctions authority of the United States to cripple the International Criminal Court (ICC). https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-congress-and-the-trump-administration-regarding-icc-sanctions

• Reports suggest the new Congress will include sanctions against the ICC in its first legislative action. The incoming Trump Administration has also given indications of sanctions through the threat of Executive Orders. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-congress-and-the-trump-administration-regarding-icc-sanctions

• U.S. sanctions tools designed to penalize gross violators of human rights should not be used to contribute to their continued impunity. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-congress-and-the-trump-administration-regarding-icc-sanctions

Reflecting on 2024 and looking ahead

Friends and supporters,

There is much to consider as another year comes to a close; but, first, I want to express my gratitude and pass along a warm thank you from our Sudanese partners. Thank you for standing with us through another difficult year. Here are just a few highlights:

Childhood Education in Yida Refugee Camp. Attendance at the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools in Yida Refugee Camp climbed to 838 students by year’s end. 68 primary students and 72 secondary students recently took their national exams, with results expected in late January. Another 200 Nuba students from other schools in Yida received testing prep support from our schools as well.

Healthcare and food relief in Adré refugee camps. Many survivors of war crimes in Darfur have fled into the border town of Adré in eastern Chad. With the help of a small, but growing group of generous donors, you helped fund local Darfuri healthcare workers who are running a daily children’s feeding program that provides breakfast to over 600 children and a medical clinic serving over 150 of the most vulnerable people every day.

Miles For Sudan. 58 of you have already signed up for our global campaign that helps runners, walkers, and cyclists support Sudanese heroes who are saving and changing lives. And we couldn’t have launched Miles For Sudan without a talented group of people here in Memphis either, many of whom volunteered their time and resources to make it happen!

American advocacy. We signed a number of organizational and expert letters and advocated for better U.S. policy toward Sudan. This included, but is not limited to: a letter to the Justice Department regarding the U.S. government supporting the International Criminal Court’s investigation in Sudan, a letter to President Joe Biden urging his administration to take action on the unfolding genocide emergency in El Fasher, and a letter to the presumptive 72nd Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make Sudan a priority in the next administration. We also provided requested guidance to small groups of new grassroots activists for their meetings with Congressional offices, as well as advocated in our own private communication with Congressional staffers. American policy improved throughout the year, in part because of efforts like these.

This is just a snapshot of what you helped us accomplish in 2024. Thank you; none of this would have been possible without your engagement!

The challenges we faced

While there is much to celebrate, 2024 was still a very difficult year. The war and famine imposed a number of security and resource challenges for all of our Sudanese partners. Even in areas not impacted directly by violence, prices on everything from school supplies to food to medicines have skyrocketed. Sudan’s war economy is surging across borders as needs soar. Many of the Sudanese heroes we support saw more suffering this year than ever before. It’s a heavy burden not being able to help every time they see a need.

The fundraising hurdles we’ve faced since 2020 continued easing slowly throughout the year. Overblown fears of a major economic recession in the United States again failed to come to fruition as inflation receded, leading to a trickle of new supporters. Sadly, many journalists remained disproportionately focused on the Israel/Gaza crisis to the detriment of the Sudanese people, which played a key role in preventing many potential donors from finding Sudan-related causes.

Similar to our Sudanese partners, we faced these challenges head on as best we could. Our delivering news and basic analysis helped bring new faces into our movement, including more supporters who live outside of the United States than ever before. Membership in The Renewal monthly giving family grew slightly, as did the number of supporters who started a fundraising page for the first time.

Looking ahead to 2025

Sudan ends the year on the brink of becoming a failed state. Armed conflict is intensifying as the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) target civilians, the former out of paranoia at the mere perception of disloyalty and the latter along ethnic lines. Famine is far from over. And it’s unclear what action, if any, the incoming Trump administration will take with regard to the crisis in Sudan. Making specific predictions about what lies ahead seems unwise, but here is what you can expect from us in 2025:

1. A new mission statement. Much has changed in Sudan and how we go about our work since this was last updated in 2017. Our new mission statement will better indicate who we are and what we do, while better reflecting our small size as a nonprofit.

2. More news and analysis. 2024 once again showed us that when people become aware of the tragedy unfolding in Sudan, they respond with tangible action. New supporters who showed up on our doorstep throughout the year remarked that they found us because we are providing more and better information on Sudan than major media outlets. We will continue bringing you the latest developments to keep you informed and so you can help others get involved.

3. Emphasizing what is good and effective. We’ll remain laser-focused on bringing more funding to bear for our Sudanese partners, as well as highlighting the best ways you can be a part of that. I encourage you to sign up for our email list if you haven’t already. This is the best way to make sure you are always in the loop.

Make Your Last Gift of 2024

While this year has brought unprecedented suffering, we've also witnessed the incredible resilience and compassion of the Sudanese heroes we partner with. We invite you to make one last gift in 2024 to Sudanese teachers, aid workers, and healthcare professionals.

Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.

If you aren’t in a position to give, we encourage you to join Miles For Sudan.

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

Thank you again for standing with our friends in Sudan this year. A long road and a lot of work lies ahead; but, together, we can help Sudanese heroes continue to change lives for the better. We all wish you a joyous and healthy New Year.

Onward,

Mark C. Hackett

Executive Director

obsilence.org

Biden administration makes final Sudan push

U.S. policy concerning Sudan intensified throughout 2024. Now it may end with a bang.

•••••

American diplomats seem determined to make the most of the Biden administration’s twilight days on the world stage, including considering plans to declare that specific atrocities in Sudan meet the high legal threshold of the crime of genocide, issuing a wave of new sanctions, and more.

A quick recap for those who are new to the situation in Sudan. For 20 long months, Sudan’s national army and a genocidal militia called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have torn Sudan to shreds in a brutal war for control of the country. Now the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crises for roughly a year, the plight of the Sudanese people is still largely being ignored by many world leaders and journalists. Khartoum is mostly destroyed, as are countless towns and villages the war has blasted through, or that the RSF has massacred. Multiple areas of Sudan descended into famine months ago. The death toll is unknown, but some estimates earlier this year were already surging past 150,000 Sudanese killed.

The United States has mobilized more countries and international institutions throughout 2024 in a concerted effort to end the war and pry open humanitarian access, making some limited progress concerning the latter these past few months especially. Still, nearly half of all humanitarian aid provided to the Sudanese people this year came from the United States.

With the Biden administration in its final weeks, senior U.S. officials are now racing to lock in whatever progress they can. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the United Nations Security Council on December 19, where he said:

“So to the foreign sponsors sending drones, missiles, mercenaries – enough. To those profiting off the illicit oil and gold trade that fund this conflict – enough. Use your resources to ease Sudanese suffering, not deepen it. Use your influence to end the war, not perpetuate it. Don’t just claim to be concerned about Sudan’s future, prove it.”

When asked in a recent interview what the American focus will be the next few weeks, U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello added:

“Well, one of the things that Secretary Blinken made clear today at the United Nations is that we're going to use every second we've got, and we've got some momentum. We're in the fifth straight month of breaking the largest humanitarian embargo in the world, but we have so much more to do. We've seen four times more food and medicine moving into Sudan than we saw just a few months ago, and each one of those is food and medicine reaching a mother or a child that's been malnourished for months in places like Zamzam camp or Kadugli in South Kordofan. We're getting the convoys moving, including the first convoy into parts of southern Khartoum since the war began almost two years ago. So, we have got to lock in those humanitarian gains that are saving lives. But ultimately, we've got to move towards a ceasefire, even a temporary ceasefire, from the parties, to give some relief to the horrific conditions that millions of Sudanese people are facing.”

The Biden administration also seems to be considering taking more serious steps. Speaking to Politico, four current and former American officials said the administration is “weighing plans to declare the atrocities in Sudan as a genocide and issue a raft of new sanctions” on the RSF. This includes sanctions on lead RSF general Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo —aka “Hemeti”— and other RSF enterprises that are propping the militia up. The Biden team is also being pressured from the outside to appoint a senior USAID official to oversee the international aid effort to Sudan heading in to the Trump administration.

While a genocide declaration would be a major step, it’s unclear exactly how this would change the status quo in the short term. There is often a misguided belief in the general public that using the word genocide immediately triggers rapid policy changes and a massive global response. History suggests this is rarely the case. Still, if the State Department has significant evidence that RSF crimes reach the legal threshold of genocide —and evidence does seem to exist— then that determination should be announced now and additional efforts should be made to further document crimes being committed for future prosecutions. A lack of accountability in the past is a major driver of the current war. This cycle needs to be broken.

It is unknown what action, if any, the incoming Trump administration will take with regard to the crisis in Sudan. Continuing the Biden team’s approach these past several months should be the bare minimum and efforts are underway to communicate that; but, ultimately, Trump’s foreign policy officials will have to decide to make the plight of the Sudanese people a priority day in and day out. Time will tell if they have the political will to do so. Until then, we must continue doing everything we can to help local heroes on the ground save lives.

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Make Your Last Gift of 2024

This year in Sudan has been both challenging and inspiring. While the war has brought unprecedented suffering, we've also witnessed the incredible resilience and compassion of the Sudanese heroes we partner with.

As 2024 comes to a close, we invite you to make one last gift to Sudanese teachers, aid workers, and healthcare professionals. Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.

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

Shareables

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

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

• American diplomats seem determined to make the most of the Biden administration’s twilight days on the world stage, including weighing plans to declare that specific atrocities in Sudan meet the high legal threshold of the crime of genocide: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/biden-administration-makes-final-sudan-push

• It is unknown what action, if any, the incoming Trump administration will take with regard to the crisis in Sudan. Continuing the Biden team’s approach these past several months should be the bare minimum. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/biden-administration-makes-final-sudan-push

• Throughout 2024, the United States mobilized more countries and international institutions in a concerted effort to end the war and pry open humanitarian access to hard-hit areas, making some limited progress concerning the latter these past few months. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/biden-administration-makes-final-sudan-push

Nuba Education Update - December 2024

Program Background

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

• 22 Nuba teachers and 4 support staff

• 838 students in total attendance - Endure Primary (380 boys/168 girls) and Renewal Secondary (174 boys/116 girls)

Over 11,000 children have been served to date between these two schools. Students at Endure Primary regularly have some of the top-performing standardized testing scores in the region. Renewal Secondary is the only fully-functioning high school in Yida.

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

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

Map by Operation Broken Silence

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Recent Updates

Endure Primary & Renewal Secondary. Life at the schools continues largely uninterrupted despite the war and famine in Sudan, as well as the massive education crisis from so many Sudanese schools being closed. Attendance rose throughout the year as new refugees from the Nuba Mountains to as far away as Khartoum arrived in Yida, ending with a high of 838 students by year’s end.

68 students at Endure Primary and 72 students at Renewal Secondary recently took their national exams, with results expected in late January. Last year we celebrated a record 43 of the 45 students pass the primary national exam. The teachers and students are hopeful for similar results this year.

Wall and roofing repairs are currently needed in 5 classrooms following seasonal rains. Most materials to do so, including tarps and roofing, are largely depleted after being pulled from storage over the past 18 months. With attendance rising the schools also need two more latrines built. We need to raise an additional $9,000 by the end of the year to get facilities ready for the new semester at the end of January.

Supplementary Education Support. Endure Primary School continues serving as a national exam preparation facility for primary students in Yida. This supplementary program positively impacted just over 200 additional students this exam cycle!

Vision Secondary, the only other high school in Yida, made it through another year 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. The teachers at Vision are mostly untrained, so a handful of our teachers have been helping teach specific courses and provide general guidance.

Our Nuba education partner made a limited delivery of school supplies to Yida’s other schools this year, all of which operate with no consistent outside support. Shortages of chalk, paper, pencils and notebooks continue to disrupt the quality of education that can be provided in Yida.

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Amira’s Story

Amira’s family came to Yida a little over a year ago from the Nuba Mountains. She says:

“We came because the war has made life more expensive and hard. We were safe in our village; there was no fighting, but food was hard to find with so many people coming from other places seeking safety.”

Their family has fared better in Yida, although access to clean water is still difficult and food is not always readily available. But having a safe, better-resourced school to go to has made a big difference for Amira.

“I made friends here fast. The teachers are very good but we don’t have enough school supplies. We are thankful for what we have. Many schools in Sudan are closed because of war. Thank you.”

Amira’s family hopes to return to the Nuba Mountains when there is peace and better living conditions. Until then she comes to school every day, knowing it’s the best thing she can do right now.

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How war is impacting life at the schools

20 months of devastating war between the army and Rapid Support Forces has decimated Sudan’s schools. Local officials estimate over 900,000 Sudanese have fled into the Nuba Mountains as war and famine have spread, placing significant strains on the fragile region. Sporadic fighting on the western and northern frontlines in Nuba throughout the year has further exacerbated needs.

Yida remains an oasis of calm, but this crisis casts a dark shadow as costs rise. Teachers and families are war-weary and frustrated that the world is still largely looking away from their country’s plight. For the schools though, funding remains the largest obstacle. Rapidly rising costs and a grueling international fundraising environment left them with only 60% of the funding they needed this year to provide a more holistic experience to students.

If violence does erupt on a larger scale or humanitarian conditions worsen further across the border, larger refugee flows into Yida will begin. More children will need to rely on our schools and the supplementary assistance we provide. Right now, we don’t have the resources to mount an adequate response for this scenario. Internationally-minded donors are still struggling to comprehend the massive humanitarian and education needs in Sudan, as major media outlets fail to cover consistently the largest and most severe humanitarian emergency in the world. Our awareness efforts are bringing more attention and funding to bear, but not nearly enough to keep up.

Despite these challenges though, the work being done by these brave teachers and students continues on. Everything is more expensive and difficult than it was 20 months ago; but, with your help, the lives of children —Sudan’s future hope— can still be changed for the better. We invite you to join us in supporting these amazing people to that end.

The teachers in Yida we support are a small bulwark against the massive education crisis Sudanese teachers and kids face. With so many schools across the country closed and too few classrooms in refugee camps, our schools are more critical than ever. Your generosity can make the difference now and help the teachers prepare for whatever lies ahead.

$9,000: Cover the costs of all needed classroom repairs before the next semester.

$5,000: Fund an entire classroom at Endure Primary for an entire year.

$2,000: Support one teacher for an entire year.

$1,000: Support one teacher for an entire semester.

$500: Help deliver new chalkboards to classrooms.

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

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

Join Miles For Sudan | Donate Stock or Crypto

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

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

Shareables

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

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

• Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world consistently supporting childhood education in Yida Refugee Camp, just south of Sudan’s historically-oppressed Nuba Mountains. They rely on supporters like you to continue doing so. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-december-2024

• Rapidly rising costs and a grueling international fundraising environment left our schools in Yida with only 60% of the funding they needed this year to provide a more holistic experience to students. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-december-2024

• Sudan is home to the largest and most dangerous humanitarian emergency, far outpacing every other crisis in the world. The county is also home the largest children’s education crisis as most schools are closed. Here’s one way to help: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-december-2024

• Teachers in Yida are a small bulwark against the massive education crisis Sudanese kids face. Your generosity can make the difference now and help the teachers prepare for what lies ahead. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/nuba-education-update-december-2024

Letter to Senator Rubio concerning making Sudan a priority in the next administration

Operation Broken Silence is joining 30 organizations in encouraging Senator Marco Rubio, the presumptive 72nd Secretary of State, to ensure Sudan is a top priority for the incoming Trump Administration’s foreign policy.

What does this mean and why does it matter?

Sudan is home to the largest and most dangerous humanitarian emergency, far outpacing every other crisis in the world. Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has wreaked havoc on the Sudanese people. Mass atrocities, gross human rights violations, food insecurity, and climate-related disasters have forcibly displaced more than 11 million people from their homes. More than half the country is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, with a handful of areas already experiencing famine.

In the aftermath of the 2019 revolution, Senator Rubio led a bipartisan resolution expressing support for the transition to a civilian-led government in Sudan. Over the course of 2024, the Biden Administration has made Sudan a higher priority, which has led to some improvements in humanitarian access and more serious efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Our hope is that if Senator Rubio is confirmed as Secretary of State, he will use his longstanding focus and experience with Sudan to make ending the war and reducing humanitarian needs a top priority in the administration. The United States must play its traditional role of international mobilizer when it comes to saving lives in Sudan.

Make Your Last Gift of 2024

This year in Sudan has been both challenging and inspiring. While the war has brought unprecedented suffering, we've also witnessed the incredible resilience and compassion of our Sudanese partners.

As 2024 comes to a close, we invite you to make one last gift to Sudanese teachers, aid workers, and healthcare professionals. Checks can be made payable to Operation Broken Silence and mailed to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900.

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

Shareables

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

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

• Operation Broken Silence is joining 30 organizations in encouraging Senator Marco Rubio, the presumptive 72nd Secretary of State, to ensure Sudan is a top priority for the incoming U.S. administration’s foreign policy: https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-senator-rubio-concerning-making-sudan-a-priority-in-the-next-administration

• Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has wreaked havoc on the Sudanese people. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-senator-rubio-concerning-making-sudan-a-priority-in-the-next-administration

• In the aftermath of the 2019 revolution, Senator Rubio led a bipartisan resolution expressing support for the transition to a civilian-led government in Sudan. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/letter-to-senator-rubio-concerning-making-sudan-a-priority-in-the-next-administration

First major aid convoy reaches Zamzam Camp after months of famine

The World Food Programme (WFP) is finally surging operations across Sudan. The first aid convoy has arrived at Zamzam Displacement Camp in Darfur, one of the epicenters of Sudan’s spiraling famine. But the crisis is far from over.

•••••

19 months of war between the national army and a genocidal militia called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has torn Sudan to shreds. This crisis became the largest humanitarian and displacement catastrophe in the world nearly a year ago, a fact largely being ignored by many world leaders and journalists. Khartoum already lies in ruins, as do countless towns and villages the war has blasted through or that the RSF has massacred. Multiple areas of Sudan descended into famine months ago.

Map: Location of El Fasher. (Operation Broken Silence)

Recent events in Zamzam and the nearby city of El Fasher in North Darfur shows just how dangerous this emergency has become. Home to an estimated two million people, the area has been under a brutal siege by the RSF for seven terrifying months. Famine was officially declared in Zamzam three months ago —catastrophic hunger actually began well before then— and no major aid convoys have reached the area until now. The result is that cemeteries and makeshift burial sites are expanding so rapidly they can be seen by satellites.

The traditional global aid structure has failed to meet the scale of this crisis head on for a myriad of reasons, the three biggest being a deplorable lack of funding, the army regime denying aid access, and the predictable collapse of law and order in RSF-controlled areas. Indeed, the problem most in control of the international system —merely funding the United Nations’ 2024 emergency response— is still neglected, with the aid effort only 60% funded for the entire year. And 2024 is almost over.

The world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe is not forgotten, it is being ignored. Ordinary Sudanese are still paying the price.

A flicker of light in the darkness

The WFP convoy that arrived in Zamzam is the first to appear since famine was confirmed in August. The combination of intense urban combat in nearby El Fasher, roads made impassable by seasonal rains, and the army denying aid access to large swaths of Darfur —which is mostly under control of the sadistic RSF— made delivering aid to Zamzam all but impossible.

The first aid trucks that rolled into Zamzam Displacement Camp on November 22 were met with cheers from exhausted people, many of whom have been forced to eat crushed peanut shells and grass. According to WFP, the convoy departed the Adré border crossing with Chad on November 9 and arrived on the 22, carrying 150 metric tons of aid for 12,500 people. A second, much larger convoy departed Port Sudan for Zamzam in the far east of the country on November 12 and carries 330 metric tons of aid for 27,400 people.

While this will have a positive impact on displaced Sudanese trying to survive in Zamzam, it is not nearly enough to turn the tide of famine in the area. The camp’s official population size before the siege of El Fasher was already over 500,000. Due to the extreme violence in El Fasher and other nearby areas, the Zamzam population has surged for months and may be closer to one million now.

This delivery, then, is akin to a band-aid on a gunshot wound, but it is hopefully the start of a more consistent flow of aid to preserve human life in this impossible environment. There is ample opportunity to continue saving lives here in partnership with local heroes.

You can help save lives in Zamzam

Team Zamzam is made up of 20 female counselors who are distributing food, sanitizing soap, and medicine to the disabled and blind, the elderly, unaccompanied children, widows who have taken in children, and those with severe acute malnutrition. They have also provided counseling services to over 4,000 women who were sexually assaulted and repaired 9 critical water wells. Thousands of people in Zamzam are alive today because of these brave women.

This month, Team Zamzam has fed 10,623 of the most vulnerable people. Another 252 families have benefited from the distribution of basic necessities, consisting of a food basket of flour, red lentils, and sugar.

The counselors need $20,000 per month to continue saving lives at this scale. Whether you can spare $10 or $1,000 doesn't matter; what matters is that we all do our part to support these brave women in this dark hour.

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

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

Shareables

Share our posts with others or copy and paste the following messages.

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

• The first aid convoy has arrived at Zamzam Displacement Camp in Darfur, one of the epicenters of Sudan’s spiraling famine. But the crisis is far from over. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/first-major-aid-convoy-reaches-zamzam-camp-after-months-of-famine

• The first aid trucks that rolled into Zamzam Displacement Camp in Sudan on November 22 were met with cheers from exhausted people, many of whom have been forced to eat crushed peanut shells and grass. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/first-major-aid-convoy-reaches-zamzam-camp-after-months-of-famine

• Famine was officially declared in Zamzam three months ago and no major aid convoys have reached the area until now. The result is that cemeteries and makeshift burial sites are expanding so rapidly they can be seen by satellites. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/first-major-aid-convoy-reaches-zamzam-camp-after-months-of-famine