Sudanese Volunteer Rescues Refugees on Floating Barrels

Sudanese Volunteer Rescues Refugees on Floating Barrels
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Sudanese Volunteer Rescues Refugees on Floating Barrels

Sudanese Volunteer Rescues Refugees on Floating Barrels

A Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer crossed the valleys of the Rudum area of ​South Darfur to rescue war refugees from southern Sudan, using a floating bridge made of barrels.

Imad Abu Hala did not hesitate to leave his car, rent a carriage, and walk for two days to help refugees. The volunteer documented his journey through WhatsApp. His image went viral on social media.
Abu Hala said it was one of the most difficult missions he ever went through, and his goal was to reach a refugee camp to provide it with relief and medicines. He transported them on the carriage for 350 meters between Bram and Rudum.

He began his journey on the carriage, but when he reached the valley, he crossed it over a floating bridge made of barrels and tied with wood and ropes. Skilled swimmers pushed the bridge while resisting the stormy waves. The riskiness of this process stems from the nature of the region during the autumn, where the valley is filled with water.

The Rudum region is located south of Darfur, and bordered by the State of Southern Sudan (75 km), as well as the Central African Republic. The region suffers from poor services, especially during the autumn.

The Rudum area features a natural reserve that includes groups of deer, lions, tigers, titillos, buffaloes and some reptiles, near the area of ​​the State of Southern Sudan, which encouraged the refugees to run to it.



Pedersen Says ‘Extremely Critical’ to Avoid Syria Being Dragged into War in Region

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)
UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)
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Pedersen Says ‘Extremely Critical’ to Avoid Syria Being Dragged into War in Region

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)
UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus on Sunday. (Syrian Foreign Ministry)

The UN special envoy for Syria said on Sunday that it was “extremely critical” to end the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza to avoid the country being pulled into a regional war.

“We need now to make sure that we have immediately a ceasefire in Gaza, that we have a ceasefire in Lebanon, and that we avoid Syria being dragged even further into the conflict,” said Geir Pedersen ahead of a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Damascus.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has not released any details about the Pedersen-Sabbagh meeting. It only issued a brief statement in which it announced the meeting.

Local sources said Pedersen's second visit to Damascus this year is aimed at exploring the possibility of resuming the Constitutional Committee meetings aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis.

The meetings have been stalled since the eighth round on February 22, 2022, due to a dispute over the venue of the reconvening of the Constitutional Committee. Russia, which is not satisfied with Switzerland's joining Western sanctions against Moscow because of the Ukraine war, refuses to hold it in Geneva.

“Pedersen is holding talks with Syrian officials in Damascus, where he arrived last Wednesday, about the possibility of resuming the Constitutional Committee meetings,” reported Syria’s Al-Watan newspaper.

Earlier this month, Russian presidential envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev told TASS: “As you know, only one venue - Geneva - is still unacceptable for the Russian side. As for all others, we are ready to work there.”

He added: “Probably, there is an open option with Baghdad, which, regrettably, was rejected by the Syrian opposition. It refused from this venue because Baghdad is supporting Damascus. They don’t think that Iraq is a neutral venue.”

The Russian diplomat stressed that the committee’s work should be resumed as soon as possible, but, in his words, it takes a lot of effort to find a venue that would be acceptable for both Damascus and the Syrian opposition.

Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Syria against government forces, Iranian troops and Hezbollah targets since the eruption of the crisis there in 2011. Strikes have increased following the Israeli war on Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.

On Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll of the Israeli airstrikes on Palmyra city on November 20 continues to increase with many people suffering from severe injuries.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of three Syrians and two non-Syrian members of Iranian-backed militias, bringing the number of fatalities to 105.