Manitobans worry about those facing civil war, famine in Sudan as international aid dwindles
World's attention is now focused on wars in Ukraine, Gaza: Reuben Garang
Manitobans who came to Canada from Sudan say they live in constant dread as they read about the civil war ravaging their former home, and are frustrated at how little it seems is being done to alleviate the hunger and suffering of family and friends they left behind.
Sudan has been at war since April 2023, when clashes broke out between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, crushing a planned transition to a civilian government.
After nearly a year of civil war, the UN says the humanitarian crisis in Sudan has become one of the worst in recent history. More than 10 million people have been displaced, famine is looming and there is inadequate international aid.
Reuben Garang, president of the Council of South Sudanese Community of Manitoba, says most of his relatives back home are living in displacement camps, either in South Sudan or as refugees in neighbouring countries including Uganda and Kenya.
"It takes a toll on you emotionally because you're dealing with the news of displacement, killing and death constantly. It's very devastating." said Garang, who came to Canada in 2004 after being displaced from his home in 1987 by an earlier civil war.
That civil war ended in 2005 when a peace agreement was signed and in 2011 the Republic of South Sudan declared independence after a referendum was held.
According to the UN more than a third of the Sudanese population is facing acute hunger, while 3.7 million children are suffering from malnutrition.
Garang says what's happening now is a very difficult situation for families left behind and to everyone in the diaspora.
"People who are here shoulder a lot of the burden because you have to do what you can to take care of your relatives back home, and yet they can't," he said.
The country is facing an economic crisis that is already affecting people, said Garang.
"The dollar value is up against the local currency … goods are not moving from region to region," he said.
Roads are closed, and there are environment problems like flooding, Garang said.
"People are struggling and they can't find ways out."
Garang says Sudan's situation is being ignored as the international community focuses on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
"We know where the world's attention is now … more attention is given to other countries, not Sudan now," he said. "We all know where the world's resources go to. I don't think that this is equally distributed."
Last December, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced the launch of a family-based, permanent residency pathway for those affected in Sudan. The one-year program is open to the children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents or siblings of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
However, Garang says, the new federal pathway to Canada is not enough.
"When you look at how many people are coming from Sudan to Canada … they are very few, like around 20,000 something compared to people coming from other countries."
Currently, he says, about 2,000 Sudanese nationals have settled in Manitoba.
Garang underscores the need for a robust response from the international community.
"You know when you're dealing with this crisis in the world, you just wish that the world would care … and rescue the people equally without discrimination."
Mandela Kuet , who has been actively involved to help the Sudanese community in Winnipeg, says he feels helpless.
"It's a sad situation to be able to observe from here and not to be able to try and make a difference," he said.
Kuet, who was 13 when he immigrated to Winnipeg with his parents in 1998, recalls the tension, growing up during a civil war.
"There were moments where you could see military personnel and blockade where you had to present identification …there were times where you had to stay home for safety reasons. There was obviously discrimination based on the ethnic background," he said. "There was always a sense of caution."
Kuet says he worries for family members left behind.
"Right now the situation is dire for a lot of the people there.There's a lot of people losing their lives, not just my family, but a lot of other people's families.
"They are always at risk because there is no security, no constitution and no rules of law to protect the people."
Kuet has been actively involved with helping the youth from his community. He says young people in Sudan desperately want to leave the country and change their life.
"They want to go somewhere where they have an opportunity for education and advancement."
And while he echoes Garang's sentiments that Sudan needs far more international aid, he says getting supplies to so many internally displaced people seems impossible.
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