‘It’s brutality, impunity and lawlessness on an absolutely epic scale’: Miliband

Key Concepts

• Darur: A region in Sudan experiencing severe conflict.
• Alfasia: The capital of North Darur, besieged for 500 days.
• The Quad: A diplomatic grouping comprising the US, UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, identified as key players for diplomatic pressure.
• Genocide: The systematic killing of a racial or ethnic group.
• New Face of War: Characterized by brutality, impunity, and lawlessness on an epic scale.
• Global Disorder: A new international environment where conflict zones are subject to no law, and warring parties ignore the laws of war.

Access and Observations in Darur

• The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has hundreds of aid workers on the ground in Darur.
• They are assisting people who fled from Alfasia, the capital of North Darur, which was besieged for 500 days.
• Access to Alfasia itself is impossible.
• Estimates suggest at least 200,000 people are still trapped inside Alfasia.
• Those who have escaped Alfasia are reporting "horror stories" of mass killings, rape, and pillage of women and families.

The "New Face of War"

• The current conflict in Darur is described as the "new face of war."
• Key characteristics include:
  • Brutality
  • Impunity
  • Lawlessness on an "absolutely epic scale."

Diplomatic Gridlock and Key Powers

• The major powers influencing progress in Darur are identified not as the US or China, but as regional actors.
• Hope for progress runs through:
  • Riyadh (capital of Saudi Arabia)
  • Abu Dhabi (capital of the United Arab Emirates)
  • Cairo (capital of Egypt)
• The "diplomatic gridlock" in these capitals is directly costing lives.

Western Leverage and the Quad

• Western countries, including the United States, do possess leverage.
• The Trump administration revived "the Quad," a grouping of the US, UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
• These four nations are considered the "key players" who need to exert diplomatic pressure.
• The US has "very close relations" with all these countries, facilitating this pressure.

Urgency for Activism and International Response

• Activism needs to "go to a whole new level" to save lives.
• Reports of visible blood on the ground from satellite imagery due to mass killings are presented as a "real wakeup call for the international system."
• The situation is described as "absolute genocide," specifically targeting "minorities, non-Arab minorities" who were also subjects of conflict 20 years prior.

Historical Context and Current Crisis

• In 2019, Sudan had a civilian government.
• The "real sin" is that this government did not receive adequate support.
• In 2021, a military coup occurred involving "two different factions."
• These factions are now fighting, with the civilian population bearing the "desperate price."

Ripple Effects and Regional Instability

• Sudan is a country of 50 million people with 500 kilometers of coastline on the Red Sea.
• People are fleeing to:
  • South Sudan
  • Chad
  • Even as far as Europe
• The ripple effects of the conflict are "real."
• The situation is setting a "terrible standard" for a "new global disorder."

The "New Global Disorder"

• This disorder is characterized by:
  • Conflict zones being subject to "no law at all."
  • Waring parties ignoring the "laws of war."
  • Civilians, not soldiers, paying the price.
• The current situation represents a "new low" compared to 20 years ago.

Scale of Need vs. Response

• The scale of humanitarian need today is "even three or four times the level it was 20 years ago."
• However, the international response is only "10 or 20% of what it was 20 years ago."
• This disparity is highlighted as the "real alarm bell."

Conclusion

The interview with David Milliban, CEO of the International Rescue Committee, paints a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis in Darur, Sudan. The conflict is characterized by extreme brutality and lawlessness, with an estimated 200,000 people trapped in Alfasia and escapees reporting horrific atrocities. The key to de-escalating the crisis and saving lives lies in diplomatic pressure exerted by regional powers like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, facilitated by the US through the Quad initiative. The IRC emphasizes the urgent need for increased international activism and a significantly scaled-up humanitarian response, as the current level of aid is drastically insufficient compared to the immense and growing needs, setting a dangerous precedent for global disorder where the laws of war are disregarded and civilians bear the brunt of conflict.