Women and a boy walk along a street in Khartoum on 18 April, 2023. Explosions rocked the Sudanese capital on the fourth day of fighting that has claimed nearly 200 lives despite growing international calls for an end to hostilities that have spawned increasing lawlessness. Photo: AFP
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The conflict in Sudan has caused the forced displacement of over 8 million people and over 15,000 have been killed in fighting across the country. While the world remains focussed on Gaza and Ukraine, Sudan is on the brink of hunger.
In this episode Kadambari Raghukumar speaks to Sudanese-American rapper and producer Oddisee on how the war in Sudan has impacted his family members living there and what he hopes for the country.
Oddisee Photo: Flickr
Also featuring in this episode are Auckland-based Dr Ala Farah and Leena Kheir who helped put together Yala for Sudan - an art exhibition featuring the photography of Dubai-based Sudanese photographer Ala Kheir.
Yala for Sudan - an art exhibition at Auckland's Studio One, featuring photographs by Ala Kheir and paintings by Leena Kheir. Photo: Supplied
Exactly a year ago, Here Now ran this story after fighting broke out in Khartoum between two factions of the military government - the army or SAF and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. It featured conversations with diaspora members like Dr Ala Farah and Dr Reem Abbas whose family members were amongst many thousands who started fleeing the main cities, hoping to find safety away from the seats of power to Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Port Sudan. In this episode we follow up on how Dr Ala's family has been faring.
Dr Ala Farah at Yala for Sudan Photo: Supplied
Here Now contacted Immigration New Zealand to find out if refugee visa pathways are being planned for family members of Sudanese-New Zealanders in Sudan. Immigration Policy Manager Sam Foley said "at this stage there are no plans to create a special humanitarian visa pathway for people from Sudan and Decisions on whether to create a pathway would need to be made by Cabinet."
Leena Kheir at Yala for Sudan in Auckland Photo: Supplied
