Phone numbers on Twitter, Facebook or Telegram work simultaneously with the gunpowder in Khartoum. Given the imperative paralysis of humanitarian organizations by armed conflict, Sudanese had to use social media to ask for safe places to escape and even knowing where the food is sold.
“People now prefer to use social networks because it is easy to know safe and dangerous places, as well as to look for food and health care”Ozman al-Yamri, one of the organizers of the Khartoum resistance committee, gave information to EFE by phone and stated that he “does not have the support of any international organization or NGO”.
Sudan has a black record connection Internet, For coming to disrupt access across the country for weeks – when a country-changing event occurred in 2019, such as his forced eviction demanding civil transit and the 2021 coup d’état. military.
But that was not the case in this conflict between military rivals, which began on the 15th and has already killed more than 400 people. It’s a completely different scenario in the African country where internet access provides them the necessary lifeline. Continuing to resist one of the worst crises in the African country’s recent history.
Evacuation guide
Al Yamri is part of the resistance committee, an informal neighborhood network created in 2013 that became most important during the 2019 protests that overthrew former dictator Omar al-Bashir – It does not evacuate the citizens of the capital, but dedicates itself to finding the safest routes. and away from conflicts between the Sudanese Army and the powerful Paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (FAR).
“We evacuated as human beings, not civilians” directing citizens for safe exit routes from the capital“, points out Al-Jamri.
And how do they do it? Sudanese note that they communicate “with civilians through social networks” and “share information with aid groups in settlements to obtain data”.
It’s all over volunteersremember, as in the case of Sudanese Merghani Salah.
“I joined because it’s our role and duty to help people, and we definitely would need people to help us if we were in their shoes,” said Salah, an active volunteer on social networks. It even offers accommodation for expatriate groups in Khartoum. He lives in a relatively quiet area north of the capital.
He does not know exactly whether there are NGOs that are helping those in distress at the moment, however, he claims that “there are efforts by residents of Gezira and North Khartoum province to evacuate and shelter citizens trapped under the gunfire.”
reaffirms this “All this work is done ‘through social media’.”
Meanwhile, Numerous humanitarian organizations, including the UN, have suspended their operations due to the volatility and severity of the conflict.those that continue their activities operate as limitedly as possible due to the intense conflict.
a life saver
While photos of missing supplies, missing supplies and even medicines are posted on Twitter, Sudanese and other users are opening their direct message boxes to get in touch.
Help phone numbers are the most commonly found in these apps’ threads. As EFE sees it, it can also be seen on Telegram, where groups are created to ask for safe routes or even learn how to get to Egypt.
“Internet blackouts in Sudan have been increasing since the outbreak of the conflict, but they are mainly due to power outages and difficulties in supplying fuel to backup generators. Light Mater, Research Director of NetBlocks, a London-based portal that controls internet censorship, told EFE, although providers were ordered to cut service, for the most part they did not comply.
But in this conflict “Great effort has been made to maintain connectivity despite security issues.“Evacuations are being organized online,” Mater said, watching.
“The availability of the Internet undoubtedly saves lives” rivet.