A major rally in solidarity with the Sudanese people, victims of chemical weapons and ongoing conflict, was held on May 18th in front of the UK Parliament in London.
The demonstration brought together more than 100 participants from various EU and UK organizations, as well as a coalition of Sudanese human rights groups under the “Sudanese Peace Forum.” Organizations such as Safe Steps, Sudanese Women for Peace, and the Peace and Democratic Transition Organization called for immediate action to stop the war in Sudan and to prosecute the Sudanese army for human rights violations.
Representatives from EU human rights organizations invited the international community to stand up for the rights of the Sudanese people, to end the war, and to alleviate the suffering of civilians, especially women and children.
Film director and human rights activist Deborah Paul highlighted the dire situation:
“Caught in the crossfire are millions of innocent civilians—and tragically, women and children have become deliberate targets. Rape is being used not only as an act of violence, but as a weapon of war. Girls as young as one. Boys. Mothers, grandmothers, daughters. Sisters, friends. Entire communities torn apart.”
She called for urgent action and accountability: “We must amplify the courage of survivors. We must support the frontline organizations offering medical care, trauma healing, and protection. And we must name this for what it is: a crime against humanity.”
Aye Soe Kari, president of International Burmese Students and a youth activist and human rights defender, pointed out that Sudan is now facing the world’s worst hunger crisis, a crisis that barely makes global headlines:
“More than 26 million people, over half the country, face food insecurity. That means children crying from hunger with nothing to eat. That means mothers skipping meals for days just so their babies can survive a little longer. In some areas, families are eating leaves from trees. In other places, people are boiling water with rocks, pretending it’s soup to comfort their starving children.
In the camps, there’s no milk, no bread, no fruit. People line up for hours in the heat for a bowl of porridge, and often there’s not enough to go around. Children have swollen bellies and thinning hair, classic signs of starvation. Some families have been forced to eat the seeds they were saving for the next planting season, knowing full well it means they might not be able to grow food next year.
And while people starve, international aid trucks are blocked by violence. Farmers have fled their land. Markets have been bombed. Food prices have skyrocketed. And what little help is available often doesn’t reach those who need it most.”
Abdelrahim Grein Adam, head of the Peace and Democratic Transition Organization, issued an urgent call to the international community to stand with Sudanese victims of chemical weapons. He stated:
“The Sudanese army is no longer a national army. It is a criminal militia hijacked by radical Islamists, and partnered with extremist groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the remnants of the Muslim Brotherhood. These are not accusations. They are facts, documented by survivors, field reports, and the smoldering ruins of our cities.
Chemical weapons are used against children, families, hospitals, and markets. Invisible death, seeping into homes and lungs, leaving entire communities devastated.”
Mohammed Momin, a communication officer at Safe Steps, pointed out the most egregious violations involving the use of chemical weapons by the forces of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in the capital. He emphasized the urgent need for international attention and action to protect civilians.
Mrs. Fathia Elbushary, president of Sudanese Women for Peace, called on the international community to stand with Sudanese women, children, and vulnerable communities who are victims of violence, famine, and displacement.
All participants, including human rights organizations, journalists, and academics, denounced the use of chemical weapons, violence against women and children, and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, particularly the Christian minority, by the armed Sudanese forces. They called for immediate action to end the war and to promote peace and dialogue among Sudan’s diverse ethnic, religious, and political groups.
This rally highlighted one of the worst humanitarian crises in history, with more than 150,000 people killed, over 14 million displaced, and nearly 25 million facing famine. The world cannot remain silent. The time to act for Sudan is now.