Since April 2023, a violent civil war has been raging in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). More than 25 million people have been affected by the conflict, resulting in the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
The IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation held a press conference at its headquarters to address the situation.
In addition to IHH President Bülent Yıldırım, attendees included Osama Mahjoub Hassan Dirar (Sudan’s Consul General in Istanbul), Ambassador Ata Mannan Bakhit (former Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), Beheşti İsmail Songür (President of the Mavi Marmara Association), Dr. Serhat Orakçı (Researcher at INSAMER), Faruk Erkılıç (IHH Program Development and Strategy Unit Coordinator), and representatives of Sudanese NGOs.
“We always see imperialism behind internal conflicts.”
Yıldırım stated: “Problems in the Islamic world are constantly being manufactured — sometimes by imperialist powers, sometimes through internal strife. But behind every internal war, there’s always an imperialist power. As IHH, we have worked tirelessly since the beginning of this so-called civil war — which is in fact driven by foreign powers — to deliver aid everywhere we could.
We’ve sent ships and containers filled with aid and built a network for distribution. Now, the massacres have escalated and time is running out for Sudan. We are holding this press conference to increase aid efforts. God willing, we will again organize aid shipments with our own ships.”
“Send aid to Sudan as you do to Gaza.”
Yıldırım continued:
“Unfortunately, Sudan has been divided. They took South Sudan — the oil region. Darfur, where gold and uranium are found, is now targeted by the West for its resources, including oil. Another issue is that part of Sudan lies within what Zionist Israel calls the Promised Land (Arz-ı Mevud). They are fragmenting the lands they consider part of it. The same states attacking Palestine are attacking Sudan — because Sudan is the most powerful Islamic country in Africa, one of the two strongest supporters of Palestine. I call on Hemedti: be a son of Sudan. Punish those committing massacres and reunite with the army. The imperialists and Zionists will use and discard you. I also call on the Muslim countries behind this massacre: stop serving these powers. Serve God, humanity, and your people — otherwise, you will face God as child and woman killers. I call on the entire world: send aid to Sudan just as you send it to Gaza.”
“Even the UN has lost its distribution network.”
Dr. Serhat Orakçı, a researcher at INSAMER, said Sudan had been in chaos for nearly three years: “This has turned into a multi-sided war — a power struggle among those seeking to dominate Sudan, and it’s the Sudanese people who pay the price. Currently, Sudan faces the world’s largest displacement crisis. Millions have been forced to flee to safer areas — my mother-in-law had to relocate eight times. It’s heartbreaking.
What we can do is deliver humanitarian aid. The presence and coordination of NGOs are crucial. Even the UN has lost its aid distribution network in Darfur. We’ve all seen the massacres in El-Fashir — brutal attacks targeting civilians to spread fear.”
“IHH has supported 4.6 million people.”
Faruk Erkılıç, IHH Program Development and Strategy Unit Coordinator, described IHH’s efforts: “Through our 10-member field team and local partners, we have delivered direct humanitarian aid to over 4.6 million people in 15 states. In Khartoum, Gedaref, Nyala, and El-Fashir, we distributed around 800,000 hot meals. We also distributed over 275 tons of red meat from ritual and festival sacrifices, and more than 140,000 food packages were delivered to those in need. Additionally, through eight aid ship voyages from Türkiye, we sent 333 containers — around 5,000 tons — of humanitarian supplies to 14 different states.”
“More than 25 million people affected by the war.”
Sudan’s Consul General in Istanbul, Osama Mahjoub Hassan Dirar, said: “Since the civil war began in 2023, Sudan has faced severe challenges. Over 25 million people have been directly affected, and 12 million have been internally displaced. Many others fled to Ethiopia and Chad. Education and healthcare systems have collapsed. Food aid is desperately needed, and blockades are making it harder for humanitarian assistance to enter. We ask for urgent support to deliver aid to Darfur and other regions. IHH’s aid shipments and meal distributions are of great importance.” He added that IHH’s agricultural projects in Sudan had yielded around 96,000 tons of crops.
“The situation in Sudan is directly linked to Gaza.”
Beheşti İsmail Songür, President of the Mavi Marmara Association, said: “The situation in Sudan is directly connected to Gaza. The global elites who label the Israeli genocide in Gaza as a ‘regional problem’ are describing the imperialist oppression in Sudan the same way. But for us, this is not a regional issue. Just last week, 2,000 people were martyred in Sudan — nearly 80% were women and children. The atrocities have grown so severe that satellite images showed blood flowing through the streets. Our Islamic lands are being subjected to genocide by global powers — for oil, gold, or other resources — without sparing civilians or children. The same hands blocking humanitarian aid in Gaza are doing so in Sudan and elsewhere. As the Mavi Marmara Association, we have launched a food aid campaign for our Sudanese brothers and sisters.”
“Migration brings many hardships.”
Songür emphasized the difficulties of migration: “Those fleeing are moving into desert regions — where scorching daytime heat and freezing night temperatures prevail. Under these harsh conditions, our brothers and sisters are fleeing to protect their lives and honor. While the West and its regional puppets drool over Sudan’s resources, Sudan will continue its struggle and will not serve these imperialist and Zionist powers — neither with its underground nor surface wealth.”
“RSF is a U.S.-backed organization.”
Ambassador Ata Mannan Bakhit, former Assistant Secretary General of the OIC, said: “The civil war began when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebelled against the Sudanese army. RSF advanced toward the capital with foreign support and possesses sophisticated infrastructure and technology. The Sudanese army, with a history of over a century, has already expelled RSF from Khartoum and other regions — and will continue to do so. RSF is backed by the U.S. and other countries — yet the media does not address this fact.”
The press conference concluded following the speeches.
