from RAJI BASHIR in Khartoum, Sudan
Sudan Bureau
KHARTOUM, (CAJ News) – HUMANITARIAN workers responding to the conflict in Sudan risk a connectivity shutdown as the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) battles lack of funding.
ETC, a global network of organisations that work together to provide shared communications services in humanitarian emergencies, requires US$5,5 million to maintain services in 2026 but has entered the year without secured funding.
It requires at least $2,9 million to maintain services at guesthouses and offices housing aid workers.
The ETC, activated in May 2023, provides urgently needed connectivity and security communications to aid workers, including those from United Nations (UN) agencies.
“Without $2,9 million in new funding, services will scale down in 2026,” ETC stated this week.
The organisation noted that demand continued to rise amid growing connectivity risks.
Since the conflict began in April 2023, Sudan’s communications have been severely disrupted.
Communications infrastructure is severely impacted by damaged telecom towers, a failing power grid, and ongoing drone strikes, including new attacks targeting critical infrastructure across the nation.
Despite rebuilding core infrastructure in eastern Sudan, including Port Sudan and Kassala, services are still expensive and unreliable.
Incessant strikes have led to ongoing shortages of power, water, and fuel with connectivity blackouts a concern.
In the west and rural areas, satellite kits are often the sole solution.
Telecom providers operate intermittently in the east.
Equipment delays and escalating drone strikes have disrupted operation.
The conflict erupted involving the government-controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
It is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
– CAJ News