The Distinction Between Displaced Persons from Khartoum and Displaced Persons from Medani
By Wad Hasaballah
One of the manifestations brought about by the armed conflict in Sudan is the forced displacement of citizens towards safe cities, a phenomenon evident in many narratives and stories reflecting the hardships of those who have been forced to flee from the flames of war.
Hamida, an eight-month pregnant woman, dragged her feet heavily as she made her way to the shelter center, warm tears streaming down her cheeks. With pain in her heart, she stood before the official, asking for a refuge for her three children whom she left on the citys pavement without water or food to sustain them.
Seven consecutive days in this condition. The center supervisor coldly responded, "We cannot accept you at the center. You must meet with the administration of the shelter centers." She replied sadly, "I have been trying to reach the administration of the shelter centers for days, but they did not provide even a shade for my children." The center supervisor retorted, "We are not concerned with displaced civilians. According to the directives of the shelter centers management, the responsibility of sheltering displaced persons from Wad Madani lies with the Sudanese Red Crescent." The woman replied with anguish, "Yes, the Red Crescent registered us, but since then we have not seen anyone from them. We only have a small ticket to prove it, but it neither shelters nor feeds us." Amidst her tears, Hamida continued, "As you can see, I have only a few days left to give birth. I am looking for a place to deliver my baby, please just give me a month and I will leave on my own." The supervisor sternly replied, "I will not allow you to stay for even an hour."
The woman dragged her feet heavily, a stifled scream controlling her, pressing on her teeth.
Such stories are heard dozens of times through various shelter centers in several Sudanese cities. The question is: who are the displaced persons from the cities, and who are the displaced persons from Khartoum? And what are the privileges of these and those?
Displaced persons from the cities are those who arrived in those cities after the events of December 15, while displaced persons from Khartoum are those who arrived at these centers before December 15. Those who arrived from Khartoum have completed their registration at these centers and are able to receive various aids, albeit limited, according to the lists submitted by the shelter centers administrations. As for the displaced persons from the cities, their aid was left to the state councils after it was the responsibility of the local authorities. However, the state councils left their aid to the Sudanese Red Crescent, which does not possess even a camel or a donkey, making the post-December 15 displaced persons a group of homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks and alleys through tragic scenes exposing the reality of humanitarian and relief organizations.
The absence of good coordination in managing relief materials, on the least, leads to other crises characterized by regional disparities, which provide humanitarian needs for some while depriving others, despite their desperate need. Here we cry out at the top of our voices, who will wipe away the tears of our women, who will bring back joy to our children, who will heal the sick among our people, O liberated peoples of the world?
