The U.S. Department of State announced the public launch of the Sudan Conflict Observatory.
This new initiative is meant to closely monitor the activities of warring parties in the Sudan region and provide vital support for humanitarian efforts, according to a June 9 news release.
“Today, the U.S.-supported Sudan Conflict Observatory remote monitoring platform will start releasing public reports on violations of international humanitarian law and other abuses. It is time to end the cycle of violence that is devastating the Sudanese people," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a post on Twitter.
The observatory is the result of a collaborative effort involving prominent geographic information systems companies, Esri and PlanetScape Ai, along with Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, the release reported.
The Sudan Conflict Observatory utilizes the expertise and resources of these organizations to establish a remote platform that parallels the existing U.S.-backed Conflict Observatory, which monitors the situation in Ukraine, according to its Widespread Human Security & Humanitarian Conflict Impacts report.
This remote platform employs advanced techniques such as commercial satellite imagery and open-source data analysis to deliver independent and expert reporting on conflict activity and prevailing conditions in Sudan, the report said. By leveraging geospatial technology and data-driven insights, the observatory aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the conflict dynamics, enabling informed decision-making and effective humanitarian response.
The report investigates both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been accused of widespread violations of ceasefire declarations and human rights abuses. Critical infrastructure, such as water, sanitation and power facilities, have been targeted and destroyed.
The RSF has reportedly conducted eight confirmed, targeted and systematic arson attacks in Darfur’s rural villages and urban centers, according to the report. Humanitarian facilities have been subjected to widespread, systematic and targeted attacks, including looting of supplies across Sudan.
Protected civilian infrastructure, including marketplaces, civilian neighborhoods, schools and food production facilities, has been extensively destroyed. Both parties to the conflict have deployed roadblocks and checkpoints, hindering the freedom of movement of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid, according to the report.
An essential participant in this collaborative effort is Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab. Renowned for its expertise in public health and humanitarian research, the lab plays an active role in the observatory’s operations, according to a Yale School of Public Health release.
Leveraging their knowledge and capabilities, the researchers from Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab contribute to the analysis and interpretation of the observed data, ensuring the reported information is accurate, reliable and relevant to the humanitarian situation on the ground, the Yale release reported.
