SOAS President Zeinab Badawi Launches Humanitarian Aid Initiative for Sudan
Zeinab Badawi, renowned Sudanese-British television and radio journalist, and SOAS University of London President, launched the Humanitarian Action for Sudan (HAS) at SOAS, an initiative created to address the crisis in Sudan and improve humanitarian support within the country.
HAS is a collective led by the Sudanese diaspora, comprising researchers, doctors, journalists and experts in economics, law, peacebuilding and aid. It was established by Badawi and other like-minded individuals, mostly from the Sudanese diaspora who share common interests as seasoned professionals, human rights advocates and doctors to strengthen the international provision of aid to the country.
‘HAS is not only already providing a vital lifeline for desperate Sudanese, but it also demonstrates a new way forward for humanitarian assistance. By directly giving cash to emergency responders on the ground, with unrivalled local knowledge and networks, responders can provide emergency medical aid and food for communities across Sudan,’ said Badawi.
‘This means there are no bureaucratic delays or obstacles, and help can be given and delivered in the fastest possible way. We ask donors to help us to help them so they can help themselves.’
Sudan is currently the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, driven by an ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began on 15 April 2023. The conflict has displaced over 12 million people and left more than 150,000 dead. This includes approximately 8.9 million internally displaced within Sudan and 3.4 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. According to the UN, over 30 million people – including 16 million children – are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
HAS will also host open forums and knowledge-sharing events at SOAS to share knowledge, research and improve aid delivery, alongside continuous monitoring of the situation on the ground, to push for wider engagement, fundraising, and further humanitarian assistance in Sudan. The work is led by Badawi with the support of SOAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Habib, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) Professor Laura Hammond, Professor Lutz Oette and Dr Nada Ali as members of the HAS steering group. Basawi was appointed president of SOAS University of London in 2021.
On-the-ground efforts include direct distribution of funds to emergency responders will enable rapid provision of food and medical supplies, and deliver resources to emergency kitchens to aid affected Sudanese communities.
The HAS provides weekly updates on developments in the country, in both English and Arabic, alongside collating relevant documents on how resources can be delivered effectively.
For more information, visit soas.ac.uk
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