Salesians Recount War Situation in Sudan, Seek Support to “continue” Pastoral Care

There, they are valued for their ability to train young people in jobs that Sudan needs to pursue economic development. The two vocational schools - whose presence dates back more than 40 years ago - are also accessed by the children of Muslim families.

Labanca who edited the article points out that the battle between the two Sudanese power centers, the Presidency of the Republic and the Vice Presidency, which began in the spring, seemed to be resolved with the taking of absolute power by force. Two opposing armies are involved, the regular one of General al-Burhan and the paramilitary force under General Dagalo: “It is a very fierce war, arising not from different views on politics for the country or from ethnic rivalries exploited ad hoc, but from the personal challenge between the two men and their supporters”.

Four months later the fighting continues; there were about 1,500 deaths, including 435 children, and 7,000 injured, including 2,025 children, according to data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO): “People remain defenseless to support the shortage of food and means to survive, more than 2,000,000 are the inhabitants who had to escape the war, 1,300,000 already in the first month. A humanitarian catastrophe looms on the horizon, capable of pouring into the neighboring territories of Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic.”

“These are the destination countries, each chosen on the basis of proximity but also the hope of finding a welcome. They are masses that increase the frightening total number of refugees in Africa, the continent where, also for climatic reasons, the largest migrations of all time are taking place,” the Salesians stressed.

The international powers seem to have chosen the path of non-interference, seen in their recalling of all their respective officials operating in Sudan and the disinterest expressed by the international media. Those who remained, “Salesian Missions” has reported “several cases of brutal violence, looting, indiscriminate killings and rape. The situation is terrible, millions of people do not have access to food, water, shelter and medical care. According to the United Nations, a third of the Sudanese population needs humanitarian aid.”

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Fr. Job, a witness with his Salesian confreres, pointed out that “the epicenter of the violence has been the capital (Khartoum); but the neighboring cities of Omdurman and Bahari have also been hit since the beginning of the war. One of the women's religious communities and a Christian school were occupied by one of the parties.”

The population sought escape routes, but the airport was soon occupied by insurgents: “The evacuation efforts of civilians soon stopped and so many attempted to reach the city of Kosti to cross the border to South Sudan,” the Salesian missionary explained.

From Valdocco, they recall that the Salesians have three institutions in Sudan: St. Joseph VTC (Vocational Training Centre) in Khartoum, St. Joseph in Kalakala, and Don Bosco VTC in El Obeid. They are involved in helping and supporting the poorest and most vulnerable population: they run primary, secondary schools and vocational training institutions.

In recent months, SDB members have been forced to leave the St. Joseph VTC due to the advance of the paramilitaries and the insecurity of the area. “We do not exclude the fact that they can temporarily be evacuated from the country because the situation is getting worse by the hour,” Salesian Missions had reported. 

Aid is aimed at “distributing basic necessities to those most affected by the conflict and displaced persons in adjacent countries (South Sudan and Chad): women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as those suffering from severe malnutrition. This is why the missionaries are asking for urgent help.”

In the article, Antonio Labanca described the situation in Sudan four months after the beginning of the conflict: “The shortage of food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel is becoming more and more serious. Many people do not have access to cash and the banking system is largely paralyzed. A local medical committee reported that 70% of general hospitals in Khartoum and neighboring states have had to stop operations since the conflict broke out, while the rest offer basic services. And moving to some neighborhoods, especially those most affected by the clashes, is very risky and requires careful planning. They distribute food, water and other basic necessities such as infant formula, insulin and first aid supplies to hundreds of families.”

For those wishing to support the Salesian mission in Sudan click here.

This story was first published in Italian by ACI Stampa, ACI Africa’s news partner in Italy. After translation, it has been adapted by ACI Africa.