Amid the turmoil of war in Sudan, a glimmer of resilience and creativity shines in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. General Kidi and Ganja Farmer, members of the “Nuba Mountain Sound” band hailing from South Kordofan, bring music to a displaced audience. These musicians, who found refuge in Khartoum after the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, have again been uprooted by the recent conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Their music, sung in Arabic, English, and local Nubian languages, tackles social issues, championing the rights of children for a brighter future. They aspire to tour the entire country, using their music as a bridge to showcase Sudan’s diverse traditions and cultural richness. Their message is clear: Sudan is more than just a war-torn land, but peace is the key to unlocking its potential.
Yet, beneath this artistic resilience lies a grim reality. Sudan’s health system, already fragile, now faces the scourge of cholera and dengue fever, exacerbated by seasonal rains and the five-month-long war. Cholera cases have been confirmed in al-Qadarif state, with 18 deaths and 265 infections reported. Dengue fever has spread across multiple states, with the doctors’ syndicate suspecting the actual numbers are much higher.
The situation is dire, with polluted drinking water, unburied bodies, and overcrowded health facilities fueling the crisis. Attacks on healthcare facilities have rendered most hospitals in Khartoum inoperative. The conflict has displaced over 4.2 million people within Sudan and forced nearly 1.2 million to seek refuge in neighboring countries, overwhelming Sudan’s already strained resources. International aid is desperately needed.
In this somber backdrop, the United Nations has reported the tragic deaths of over 1,200 children from suspected measles and malnutrition in refugee camps. Cholera, dengue fever, and malaria continue to threaten lives across the nation.
Sudan’s people stand at a precipice of suffering, with an impending humanitarian catastrophe looming. The international community must take urgent action to end the conflict and provide the support needed to alleviate this crisis before it spirals further out of control.
