Hutchison Ports KICT’s Post

As we approach the first anniversary of the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, we thought it would be handy to highlight some of the publications we produced in the last twelve months and are, sadly, still relevant. "Local groups have mobilized in response to the conflict, working at different levels to respond to immediate needs however the humanitarian response in Sudan requires urgent scaling up and sustaining." This brief outlines some practical steps humanitarian actors can take to achieve these goals. #sudanconflict #localisation #humanitarian https://lnkd.in/ezbQh2SB

Weapons out, refugees in. Local sources in #Sudan say that Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have intercepted a shipment of 10,000 weapons and significant amount of munitions from #Benghazi. Final destination: the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Last summer #Khartoum's representative at the #UNSC had already accused General Khalifa #Haftar of fuelling the civil war in #Sudan by providing support to the RSF via the #Kufra-based Subul al-Salam Brigade, part of the Libyan National Army (LNA). The protected conflict between the RSF and the SAF has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that is reverberating on #Libya itself. Just to get an idea look at the bottom right corner of this map provided by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in its latest assessment (13 October 2024). The estimates say that, since the start of the civil war in April 2023, over 100,000 refugees from #Sudan have arrived in #Libya. Around 65,000 have arrived through (and are staying in) #Kufra where most of the arms transfers from LNA to RSF take place.

India is shamelessly deepening its complicity in Myanmar military junta’s atrocities by providing arms, equipment, economic assistance and false legitimacy. India ranks as the junta's third-largest arms supplier, contributing USD 51 million since February 2021. Despite hosting approximately 70,000 Myanmar refugees, India has been accused of human rights violations by deporting refugees back to Myanmar, where they face persecution. India must immediately cut all ties with the Myanmar military junta, end all support, including economic engagements and development projects, and ensure legal protection and humanitarian aid for Myanmar refugees. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3WrkKD3

Myanmar’s army has waged a protracted struggle against the minority population of Rakhine State, formerly known as Arakan, especially the mostly Muslim Rohingya ethnic group. The ongoing struggle involving the Myanmar state & Muslim groups since 1947 has been aggravated by the Myanmar military & its brutal suppression, often supported by right-wing Buddhist militias. Jihadist groups were bound to exploit the chaotic situation in Rakhine state. Once these groups have gotten a foothold, they are exceedingly difficult to dislodge. A terror threat has resurfaced in Myanmar & how it might connect with regional jihadists are as yet unknown. However, given Myanmar’s location between South & SE Asia, the implications of the existence of Katiba al-Mahdi need to be acknowledged & appreciated by security planners in the region. What has distinguished jihadist groups & their appeal from other anti-state non-state actors has been their ability to construct a narrative that the “land” in which a struggle is taking place is the “Land of Allah” &, hence, that jihadists need to join them in the struggle for the cause of Allah & Islam. Using a similar narrative, the Rakhine State-based militant group Katiba al-Mahdi fi Bilad al-Arakan is claiming Rakhine State in the country’s west as the next “land of migration (hijrah) & lawful struggle (jihad). Compared to the city of Marawi in the Philippines, Rakhine state is far more vulnerable to foreign fighters, as it can be accessed from multiple countries, including India & Bangladesh, as well as by maritime routes akin to the routes taken by Rohingyas escaping the wrath of Myanmar security forces. Bangladesh is an ideal entry point for foreign fighters as it has traditionally been a route for human, drug & arms smuggling. TheMyanmar Bangladesh border is also difficult to secure due to its mountainous & dense jungle terrain.

As #13October approaches, Caitlin Procter explores the shortcomings of current migration categories in addressing the situation of #Palestinians in #Gaza during and after the repeated evacuations ordered by the #Israeli military. ➡️ With 1.9 million Palestinians now forcibly displaced in Gaza (many of them over ten times within a single year), this #blog highlights how the collapse of humanitarian support reflects the failure of #legal definitions. ✍️ The author calls for a reevaluation of #migration and displacement frameworks and poses a critical question: Will redefining these categories make a difference, given that refugee status has failed to bring about return, restitution, or compensation for Palestinians since 1948? Full text 📌 https://lnkd.in/dbWbUi-B

Pakistan’s Passport Ranks Below Palestine in Latest Henley Index. Pakistan’s passport, ranked 100th, is on par with Yemen and is only ahead of Iraq (101), Syria (102), and Afghanistan (103). This ranking has remained the same as last year. Other low-ranking passports include Iran and Sudan at 94th place, Eritrea at 95th, North Korea at 96th, Bangladesh and Palestine at 97th, Libya and Nepal at 98th, and Somalia at 99th.

Where to evacuate the civilians to? In Gaza there is no place left but Israel could "easily" follow the gist of the UNSC and the ICJ decisions by creating a humanitarian solution which nevertheless includes achieving its goal of military fully dismantling Hamas. If Israel would open its borders and create Blue Helmets/UN peace force controlled, UNHCR managed, refugee facilities in Israel, it could upon doing so dismantle all military infrastructure in Gaza without causing any further civilian collateral damage. At the same time would the (disarmed) Gazans have a stable very safe zone to go to with a high likelihood to be able to return home if Gaza becomes inhabitable again (currently it is no longer). Finally, by involving the international community, a starting point for co-existence as equals could be created. www.canaan.community & www.pax.ngo & www.convergence.ngo https://lnkd.in/dUZ85r-C

The ongoing conflict in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces is complex. It’s rooted in weak state institutions, ethnic diversity and historical grievances. Since April 2024, the Rapid Support Forces has been trying to take over El Fasher, the only Darfur capital controlled by the Sudanese army. The battle for El Fasher highlights the complex interplay of broader national tensions involving urban governance, ethnic identity and access to resources. We asked Ibrahim Bahreldin to explain the importance of El Fasher in Sudan’s history and its future. 💻 King AbdulAziz University #Politics

📢 In our latest #blog post covering the #SouthEastEurope and #BlackSea region, Zeynep Eğin explores the aftermath of #Azerbaijan's 🇦🇿 military offensive in #NagornoKarabakh, which led to the rapid #displacement of almost the entire ethnic #Armenian 🇦🇲 population, and discusses ➡️how this attack marked a significant escalation in a long-standing conflict, resulting in over 100,000 #refugees fleeing to Armenia, ➡️the ways that the crisis strained Armenia's resources and reignited political tensions, ➡️the extent to which the international response to the #crisis has been criticised as insufficient, leading to an urgent need for sustained global efforts to address the #humanitarian crisis and achieve lasting #peace in the South Caucasus.