War Zone Unveiled: Journalist Marc de Chalvron Describes the Perilous Aspects of Reporting in Sudan Due to Extreme Dangers
Sudan's Severe Humanitarian Crisis Unveiled in Unreported War Zones
In the heart of Africa, Sudan is grappling with one of the world's worst humanitarian crises since 2023, as revealed by the United Nations. According to Marc de Chalvron, a senior reporter for France Télévisions who recently documented this unremitting disaster, entering the country is an arduous task, requiring meticulous permissions and military accompaniment.
Sudan's complex and dangerous environment makes journalistic endeavors challenging. Marc de Chalvron explains, "We were escorted by the military and required authorization for every movement. Although there was purported justification for this in terms of security, it seemed more about surveillance in reality." Despite these limitations, journalists can, and indeed do, continue their work.
"A substantial part of the country remains off-limits due to limited permits and extreme danger. In such perilous conditions, navigating conflict zones is a formidable challenge, particularly in regions like Darfur, where the situation is alarmingly catastrophic," indicates de Chalvron.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. UN reports suggest deliberate attacks on civilians, shelling of displacement camps, ethnic cleaning, and extensive sexual violence. Humanitarian operations are chronically underfunded, resulting in critical shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.
Over 12 million people have been displaced since April 2023, with many seeking refuge in neighboring countries like Chad. Recently, hundreds of thousands have been displaced in North Darfur.
Journalists face multiple challenges in documenting the crisis, including escalating conflict, infrastructure damage, and burdensome bureaucratic hurdles that restrict access. Safety and accessibility remain the most pressing concerns. In war-torn Sudan, especially in Darfur, a significant portion of the conflict remains obscured, forcing journalists to focus on the uncovered aspects of the ongoing war.
In the challenging political landscape of Sudan, journalists cautiously navigate war-and-conflicts zones, particularly in Darfur, where the unreported aspects of the ongoing war are most pronounced (War-and-conflicts, politics). The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, exacerbated by the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, is extensive, with reports of deliberate attacks on civilians, shelling of displacement camps, ethnic cleaning, and sexual violence (Un, general-news).
