Statement from Drummond Street Services about the Ongoing Crisis in Sudan
As a not-for-profit organisation committed to upholding human rights and protecting civilian life globally, Drummond Street Services strongly condemns the continuing, systematic violence being carried out in Sudan. This includes mass killings and the repeated attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers. The International Criminal Court has warned that atrocities committed in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, with reports of mass killings, rapes and other violent crimes, which form a pattern of atrocities committed since 2023.
The conflict has also triggered one of the largest displacement and hunger crises in the world, with more than 30 million people in Sudan in urgent need.
While the Australian government’s $10 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians in Sudan is welcome, Drummond Street Services ask for the government to do more, including:
- Putting pressures on our arms export supply chains, making sure that our defence exports are not indirectly contributing to further abuse in Sudan
- Continuing to push for a ceasefire and safe passage of civilians, including through increasing Australia’s humanitarian intake
- Continuing to support investigations by international bodies, such as the ICC, to continue to investigate alleged war crimes, including crimes against humanity, and genocide
- Putting pressure on countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to crack down on the sale of gold and illegal gold exports from Sudan, which continue to fuel and finance the conflict
- Listening to Sudanese Australians and diaspora communities here in Australia to find more ways to support civilians in Sudan.
Drummond Street Services will stand in:
- Solidarity with Sudanese civilians, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political allegiance
- Advocacy and a commitment to continue to campaign in Australia for stronger government action
- Partnership by working with Sudanese diaspora organisations, local NGOs, faith-based groups, and international institutions to amplify Sudanese voices and support their work.
We urge Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong to continue to advocate for civilians impacted by the conflict in Sudan and to stand in solidarity with the large Sudanese diaspora community here in Australia.
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