During a visit to the Chad-Sudan border, David Lammy encountered harrowing stories of trauma and loss as refugees sought safety from the ongoing civil war.
David Lammy's Heart-Wrenching Encounter with Sudanese War Refugees
David Lammy's Heart-Wrenching Encounter with Sudanese War Refugees
UK Foreign Secretary expresses profound distress after witnessing the suffering of families fleeing violence in Sudan.
In the blistering heat at the Adré border post, David Lammy, the UK's Foreign Secretary, expressed his horror after meeting Sudanese war victims fleeing their war-torn homeland. The journey of families escaping to Chad is fraught with peril, separation, and heartbreak as they flee from Sudan’s brutal civil war, which erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
As Lammy observed, many of these refugees are women and children recounting harrowing tales of violence, death, and famine. “It's some of the most horrific things I've ever heard and seen,” Lammy reflected after listening to the refugees’ experiences, including accounts of slaughter and sexual violence.
Among those fleeing is 28-year-old Halima Abdalla, who lost one of her children amid the chaos. "Alhamdulillah," she said, expressing relief at crossing the border, even while mourning her loss. Aid workers strive to reunite families separated during their escape, with tragic stories emerging of mothers making the impossible choice of which child to save.
Standing in front of the families, Lammy emphasized the urgency of spotlighting the plight of Sudanese civilians. Recent attempts to broker peace have stalled, and Lammy criticized international responses that seem to rank conflicts in a hierarchy, leaving Sudan overlooked despite its escalating humanitarian crisis.
The conflict has forced over 12 million people from their homes, leading to staggering malnutrition rates among Sudanese refugees, with significant numbers requiring urgent aid. As Lammy visited medical facilities, the severe impact of malnutrition on children was evident, leading to lifelong health consequences.
With the UK's commitment to doubling aid to £200 million, Lammy called on other nations to contribute more substantially. Meanwhile, ongoing political developments, such as recent aid freezes announced by the U.S. government, are raising concerns over the humanitarian fallout.
As refugees, including many from Darfur, continue to flock to Adré, Lammy reinforced the need for immediate action to address the ongoing suffering and enhance humanitarian efforts. The dire situation in places like Zamzam camp, where famine has been declared, serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent necessity for international intervention and support.
As the convoy carrying aid crossed the border into Sudan, Lammy left with a palpable urgency: “We have to step up and wake up to this huge, huge crisis.”
As Lammy observed, many of these refugees are women and children recounting harrowing tales of violence, death, and famine. “It's some of the most horrific things I've ever heard and seen,” Lammy reflected after listening to the refugees’ experiences, including accounts of slaughter and sexual violence.
Among those fleeing is 28-year-old Halima Abdalla, who lost one of her children amid the chaos. "Alhamdulillah," she said, expressing relief at crossing the border, even while mourning her loss. Aid workers strive to reunite families separated during their escape, with tragic stories emerging of mothers making the impossible choice of which child to save.
Standing in front of the families, Lammy emphasized the urgency of spotlighting the plight of Sudanese civilians. Recent attempts to broker peace have stalled, and Lammy criticized international responses that seem to rank conflicts in a hierarchy, leaving Sudan overlooked despite its escalating humanitarian crisis.
The conflict has forced over 12 million people from their homes, leading to staggering malnutrition rates among Sudanese refugees, with significant numbers requiring urgent aid. As Lammy visited medical facilities, the severe impact of malnutrition on children was evident, leading to lifelong health consequences.
With the UK's commitment to doubling aid to £200 million, Lammy called on other nations to contribute more substantially. Meanwhile, ongoing political developments, such as recent aid freezes announced by the U.S. government, are raising concerns over the humanitarian fallout.
As refugees, including many from Darfur, continue to flock to Adré, Lammy reinforced the need for immediate action to address the ongoing suffering and enhance humanitarian efforts. The dire situation in places like Zamzam camp, where famine has been declared, serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent necessity for international intervention and support.
As the convoy carrying aid crossed the border into Sudan, Lammy left with a palpable urgency: “We have to step up and wake up to this huge, huge crisis.”
