The conflict in Sudan is now the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today with over 12 million civilians displaced. The conflict has also seen extensive use explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA), resulting in thousands of civilian causalities. 

The Canadian Civil Society Working Group on Sudan convened a confidential briefing on Sudan’s crisis at the beginning of October, inviting members of the Women, Peace, and Security Network of Canada to gain deeper insight into the conflict. The briefing featured four expert panelists representing senior leadership in Sudanese feminist civil society, international humanitarian organizations, and grassroots emergency response networks. They produced a seven page report on the crisis that describes different facets of the conflict from the impact on women and girls to the geopolitical dimensions of the war. The final page of the report lists actionable recommendations for governments around the world to respond with. We encourage everyone to read this report and learn more about the difficulties that Sudanese civilians are facing. 

In particular, these experts have recommended that the international community must demand accountability for attacks on civilians and aid workers, and prioritize protection for women and girls. 

When EWIPA is used, over 90% of casualties are civilians. This does not include the causalities and suffering that ensues from important infrastructure including hospitals, schools, electricity, food supplies, and more being damaged. International Humanitarian Law, which governs how armed conflict is fought to minimize suffering, requires that armed actors distinguish between civilians and combatants. When a method of warfare has been proven to cause over 90% civilian casualties, it clearly goes against the most basic rules of warfare.

The use of EWIPA in Sudan is no exception, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. A June report from Human Rights Watch details February attacks by Sudanese Armed Forces on residential and commercial areas using unguided air-dropped bombs. One of the unguided bombs hit a grocery store, resulting in 13 deaths and 16 casualties- all civilians. One witness reported that three soldiers were also killed. This is why it's so important that militaries direct their strikes to military targets. Attacks must distinguish between military and civilians, and then be proportionate in their attack. 29 civilian causalities for 3 military deaths is not proportionate. Beyond the immediate impact, a grocery store is now destroyed which limits food supply for civilians in the surrounding area. 

Recognizing the devastating impact of EWIPA, Canada, along with 89 other states have endorsed a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas which commits to avoiding using EWIPA and recognizes the suffering it causes. This Political Declaration can and must be used as a tool by Canada to protect civilians and defend international law. One of the commitments within the Political Declaration is to uphold its values and push for other states to as well. Canada's commitment to the Political Declaration should warrant action to relieve the suffering Sudanese civilians are facing as a result of EWIPA. Canada needs to use political leverage and encourage allies to promote and uphold the Political Declaration. 

When civilians are suffering, we must use every tool in the toolbox to demand accountability and an end to the atrocities. The EWIPA Political Declaration is another tool that Canada can be using to end the suffering in Sudan.