09-02-2025
Sudanese volunteers caught in the crossfire: death or arrest … yet another ugly face of the war
Volunteers and activists, devout to serving their people, are coming under fire from warring parties, dealt with suspiciously by security services on both sides; a situation revealing another ugly face of the war
Khartoum: Altaghyeer
Sudanese volunteers who serve communities in conflict-affected areas are known for dedication and resilience risking their lives and freedoms.
Some have been killed by indiscriminate bombardment while others get arbitrary arrested.
Recently, there was an increase in news about death of volunteers, both men and women, in air strikes authored by the Sudanese army or shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) or by food shortage and lack of medical care.
Security organs of both warring parties have also increased crackdowns on the volunteers. Last week, the Sudanese army intelligence arrested the renowned volunteer Momin Wad Zainab in Omdurman but released him later on.
The Communal Kitchens, which provide free meals for thousands of families stranded in war zones, and the hospitals have lost scores of volunteers by death or arrest.
For example, the volunteer Sadiq Hayder died in RSF shelling against al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman, volunteer Abdul Rahman al-Fatih was shot dead by RSF's fighters and volunteer Ms. Saadia died in an IDP camp in al-Dheyein Darfur region, west Sudan.
The RSF arrested the volunteer Hatim al-Daw who is active within the Janoub al-Hizam Emergency Response Rooms, neighborhoods of Khartoum State's southern part.
The Rooms condemned in a statement on Thursday the arrest of Hatim who is known for playing significant role in sustainability of the health care services
inside Bashair Hospital, the only operating hospital in the area.
On Friday other two members of Janoub al-Hizam Emergency Response Room, Hashim Taaif and Mohamed Abdalla, were arrested by the RSF and taken away from Bashair Hospital at gun point.
Volunteer Wadah was arrested once by the RSF in Madani, capital of al-Gezira State, where he has been active in humanitarian work since eruption of war between the army and RSF, April 2023.
He has been arrested once again when the army recaptured the city recently.
A member of Sinnar's Emergency Response Room was arrested just because a soldier did not like his face.
After the October 2021 coup which was led by the army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, youth Resistance Committees and services committees formed under the transitional government were dissolved and since then humanitarian volunteers and activists have become under scrutiny by the security services, leading to death and arrest incidents during the ongoing war.
