Africa

Sudan

It has now been one year since the current war in Sudan between the Sudanese government and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebel group began, a grim reality for many. Food insecurity is a prominent issue that has affected the region, an issue that humanitarian workers and agencies fear could become worse. The international community has paid little attention to Sudan even as mass starvation could lead to many deaths if not acted upon in the coming months. This has also been compounded by foreign support that has supplied both sides with weapons, which the UN says is an illegal circumvention of sanctions that it has placed to end the conflict. This is dangerous, as it will prolong the already escalating tensions. The United States has implored countries to halt all arms sales and to de-escalate the violence in the region. With fears of a new impending genocide, it is imperative for negotiations to take place and allow humanitarian aid be given to those who have suffered greatly, as they face impending chaos if change is not enacted.

Tigray, Ethiopia

 Ethiopia continues to face a devastating drought and famine, causing millions to suffer. The legacy of conflict has had lasting impacts on people across the country, particularly in Tigray. While hostilities have ceased, it is clear that the problems are far from over. During a UN conference on humanitarian aid funding, Ethiopia, the US, and the UK collectively pledged $630 million in food aid to the region as well in an effort to alleviate famine. This is an important move, but UN funding in general is limited for humanitarian aid. Its $3.24 billion plan is only 5% funded, which severely limits the organization’s ability to get aid to people in need.

Despite the peace agreement reached in 2022, conflict over contested borders has resumed. Fighting recently broke out in the Raya Alamata district, between the Tigray and Amhara regions. Amharan officials have claimed that Tigrayan forces launched an invasion, an accusation denied by Tigray. In response, many have called for disarmament and further peace negotiations.

Cameroon

There has been no progress towards a lasting peace in Cameroon, but there have also been no major clashes between military forces and anglophone separatists or civilians reported in the past month. However, anticipating next year’s elections, opposition parties and civil society organizations have begun mass voter registration efforts, which may impact future decision-making and political engagement.

Outside of this conflict, International Crisis Group has warned of rising ethnic tensions in the Far North of Cameroon, as the Choa Arab people and Musgum people fight over scarce water and food resources. The conflict is not new, but its current iteration threatens broader ethnic violence, including among other ethnic groups in the region. Although the Cameroonian government has made attempts to quell the conflict, it has received little external attention, and more will need to be done to address the lack of access to basic resources.

Southwest Asia 

Yemen 

Yemen continues to become intertwined with larger geopolitical tensions and conflict. On Sunday, March 28th, a suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels involved an explosive detonation near a ship in the Gulf of Aden, near the coast of Aden, Yemen. The vessel’s crew witnessed the blast but reported no damage, and all crew members are safe. The Houthis have been launching drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden. While the rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for this attack, the US military’s Central Command reported carrying out strikes targeting the Houthis, destroying five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. Despite the increasing tensions, there have been no reports of damage or injuries to ships in the vicinity. The Houthis have been targeting ships since November, with the stated aim of ending Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas. However, the ships targeted by the Houthis have had little or no connection to Israel, the US, or other nations involved in the conflict. The recent attacks have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect. Moreover, reports suggest that the Houthis now possess a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing their threat and putting more pressure on Israel and its allies. Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, marking the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.

The ongoing conflict exacerbates the already dire situation for the Yemeni people. Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Middle East, heavily relies on imports for food, fuel, and other essential goods. Disruptions to shipping in the Gulf of Aden, on top of the 50 attacks on shipping conducted by the Houthis, further hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, worsening the humanitarian crisis in the country. Moreover, the conflict contributes to instability, displacement, and loss of life, affecting the Yemeni population’s safety, well-being, and access to basic necessities. As the conflict escalates and attacks on shipping continue, the suffering of the Yemeni people is likely to deepen.

Syria

Syria remains caught between Iranian and Israeli hostilities after Iran declared it will retaliate after recent Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus that killed at least 13 Syrians and Iranians. Iran has claimed Israel has killed Iranian generals and Syria, being close allies, has fully backed Iran in this conflict. Conflict between Israel and Syria has been long-standing, but this increase in aggression has sparked major backlash from the world. Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian has accused the United States of giving Israel the approval to attack Syria. The United States and Israel are preparing for retaliation from Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah allies of Lebanon. The UN has condemned the attack and Assistant-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari has stressed the need for “restraint” from all sides.

Outside of this conflict, recent fighting left 17 people dead in the southern province of Deraa. This clash between an armed group led by a former state security agent and a rival armed group led by a former member of ISIL (ISIS) follows an explosion that killed eight children the day before.

Sweden has also officially launched their war crimes trial against General Mohammed Hano for his alleged crimes and involvement during the 2012 Syrian War. This trial has received international attention, as many experts have considered this a massive step in holding the Syrian government and military accountable for their actions during the Syrian Civil War. 

Palestine

Amidst ongoing airstrikes and bombs that recently killed 40 people in Gaza, contributing to the total Palestinian death toll of more than 34,000 people, ceasefire negotiations have resumed. Other estimates place this number at 42,000 after 200 days of conflict. Israeli and Hamas leaders met in Cairo to discuss a plan for a truce, and Israel has proposed an exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and an unknown number of imprisoned Palestinians, free movement between south and north Gaza, and a partial withdrawal of troops. 130 people are still being held hostage and at risk. A top Hamas official claims that they would disarm and agree to a truce of five or more years if Palestine could become an independent state along pre-1967 borders, but it is unlikely that Israeli officials and other international leaders will agree to this. Moreover, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will invade the city of Rafah, where more than one million displaced Palestinians who fled violence in other parts of Gaza are now living, regardless of the outcome of these talks, with no plan to protect civilians. These tense negotiations are still ongoing, and no final decision has been reached as of April 30.

Throughout this, civilians continue to suffer. The UN asked for $2.8 billion to provide aid for food, sanitation, water, and healthcare, as massive operations are needed to restore destroyed hospitals, roads, water sources, and sanitation facilities, among other things. 70% of people are experiencing severe hunger in northern Gaza, and further escalation could create imminent famine. Also at the UN, Palestine’s bid for full membership was discussed, following a recent veto by the US over concerns about Hamas control over Gaza. The Permanent Observer of Palestine Riyad Mansour called for a ceasefire and a recognition of the right to self-determination and statehood, while the Israeli Ambassador denounced this as a Palestinian terror state. This discussion will be brought up again at the next General Assembly.

East and Southeast Asia

Burma

The American fossil fuel company, Chevron, has officially withdrawn from Burma and the Yadana gas project after 30 years of involvement. Throughout their campaign in Burma, they financially enabled the junta and their close allies, the Myanmar Gas and Oil Enterprise (MOGE). Despite their withdrawal, they will continue to support MOGE, which faced partial United States sanctions in October 2023. Posco International, a close ally of MOGE, has also funneled millions of dollars to the junta in order for their Shwe gas project to follow through. Both it and Daneli Group, an Italian steel manufacturer, have faced major backlash for supporting the junta with direct financial support and weapons manufacturing. In an effort to reach a resolution and address this, the UN has urged members to refrain from the export, sale, or transfer of jet fuel to the junta. Singapore has also cracked down on the sales of weapons to the junta after UN pressure.

Conflict continues in Burma as well. The Karen National Group has claimed to have captured one of the junta’s last outposts in Myawaddy. Over 200 junta troops have fled to the Thai border and in a visit near the border, Thai foreign minister Parnpree Bahidda-Nukara urged the junta not to retaliate and called for a de-escalation. The importance of this is clear after reports from UNICEF declaring that the number of landmine casualties has tripled in 2023, with 20% of those casualties to be children. Many Burmese people are fleeing to Thailand and Bangladesh to escape not only violence but also the recent revival of the conscription law. The junta has even abducted and forcibly recruited young Rohingya men to enlist, despite still being excluded from citizenship. 

Additionally, ousted leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint have been moved from prison to house arrest as a health measure in response to heat waves throughout Burma. Over 3,000 other political prisoners have also been released this month as part of a New Years amnesty deal.

East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China)

In the month of April, the genocide in East Turkistan continues, as well as the fight for awareness regarding the issue itself. On April 4th, an Argentinean online newspaper published an op-ed by World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa. Its publication of this op-ed holds major significance as it shows the difference made when other countries become involved in calling attention to the violation of human rights in East Turkistan. The op-ed underscores coercive tactics such as coercion-by-proxy and hostage diplomacy, while continuously highlighting the need for the international community to take action in addressing the situation. The World Uyghur Congress also published a joint letter ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to China, urging him to prioritize human rights and work to put an end to this crisis. Additionally, the European Parliament voted for a ban on products made with forced labor, requiring companies to investigate their international suppliers. However, critics worry that it does not do enough to prevent state perpetrated forced labor like in China. With the cooperation of international communities, a major difference can be made in bringing an end to the genocide in East Turkistan. However, there have still been some major challenges this month as well. A new ban on social media usage by Uyghurs restricts is a concerning act of censorship, accompanied by phone checks and further censorship. Chinese government officials use these social media platforms to deny the Uyghur genocide, and this latest ban stifles dissent. 

North America

United States

April is Genocide Awareness Month, which commemorations four twentieth century genocides: the anniversary of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda on April 7, the anniversary of the Cambodian Genocide on April 17, Armenian Genocide Remebrance Day on April 24, and occasionally based on the Hebrew calender, Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Rememberance Day. On April 15, Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-1) spoke at the Embassy of Rwanda for Kwibuka 30. He called for the United States to adopt the formal title of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda instead of referring to it as the Rwandan Genocide, which is misleading. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced S.Res.537 in January to urge the United States to make this distinction. Precise language is important to combat erasure and denial, and to honor the primary victims of genocide. Additionally, Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA-3) introduced H.Res.1156 to designate April 17 as Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day.  

Alongside this acknowledgement of past genocides, the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza has sparked over 80 student-led protest encampments on college campuses across the country. While some schools have agreed to reconsider investments in the Israeli military, numerous colleges have called the police on their own students to shut these protests down, resulting in the arrests of at least 2,000 students, faculty, and other protesters. Many people were subject to tear gas and other chemical irritants, stun guns, and violent force by riot gear-wearing police.  At UCLA, police stood by for hours with no arrests as adult counter-protesters attacked students with fireworks and tear gas, coming back the very next day to shut the protest down and arrest at least 132 people.

Alongside this, there have been at least 1350 reported instances of antisemitism on many campuses, where swastikas have been drawn and Jewish students have been harassed. Some Jewish students are joining and leading these pro-Palestine protests and some are organizing pro-Israel counter-protests, while others fear the instigation of antisemitism and that they will be targeted for expressing their Jewish identity. Feelings are complex and nuanced on all sides. In response to this, the House of Representatives has passed a new bill expanding the definition of antisemitism to include speech targeting Israel. By redefining Title VI Civil Rights protections to include political criticisms, this bill could be used to further suppress dissent and could be considered a violation of First Amendment rights.

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Alishba Waqar is a senior at Westfield High School. She contributed to the Yemen portion of this update.

Anika Gera is a junior at Terre Haute South Vigo High School. She contributed to the East Turkistan portion of this update.

Anne-Sophie Hellman is a senior at Buffalo State University studying History. She contributed to the United States portion of this update. 

Grace Harris is a junior at UCLA studying International Development Studies. She contributed to the Tigray and Palestine portions of this update.

Jerry Harris is a graduate student at George Mason University in the Mass Atrocity and Genocide Prevention certificate program. He contributed to the Sudan portion of this update.

Mira Mehta is a junior at Brown University studying Economics and International & Public Affairs. She contributed to the Cameroon portion of this update.

Seng Hkawn Myitung is a junior at Albemarle High School. She contributed to the Burma and Syria portion of this update.

Africa

Sudan

With the start of the new year, tensions between the government of Sudan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) remain high. While the paramilitary leader of the RSF has said that he is considering a ceasefire, a stalemate with the peace process remains as fighting continues in the region. In turn, Sudan has suspended its ties to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) due to the invitation of paramilitary leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo to an upcoming summit that seeks to mediate and bring an end to the conflict. This makes it more difficult to resolve the conflict, leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis as aid agencies scramble to find new routes from South Sudan to give aid to the affected regions despite facing attacks on workers and disease outbreaks. This stalling of deescalation is damaging to bringing peace and stability to Sudan and neighboring countries in the region.  

Tigray, Ethiopia

Although the pause on UN humanitarian aid was lifted in December, the resumption of aid has been slow and many people are still going hungry. Crisis levels of hunger are expected in Tigray and in other parts of Ethiopia according to the Famine Early Warning System. Already, nearly 400 people have died of starvation over the last few months while aid was suspended. This food insecurity directly stems from atrocities committed during the war. Government forces attacked food sources and weaponized starvation against the people of Tigray. They have yet to fully recover. Despite this, Tigray has seen relative stability since the peace agreement was signed last year and there has not been fighting.

Cameroon

Conflict has continued in Cameroon, without any significant escalations or progress towards peace. There have, however, been some efforts to improve the quality of life for Cameroonians. Notably, efforts to re-open schools in English-speaking regions have continued, with some secondary schools opening this month, continuing a trend of rising school attendance. There has also been an initiative to provide people with malaria vaccines, but it is unclear whether or not residents of English-speaking regions will have access to it.

Southwest Asia 

Yemen 

On January 26, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile at the USS Carney, a United States warship cruising the Gulf of Aden, compelling the vessel to intercept the projectile. This attack was a major escalation in the biggest naval conflict the US Navy has seen in the region in many years. The Houthi missile strike on Friday night also caused another commercial vessel to catch fire. In retaliation, U.S. troops launched a strike near the port city of Hodeida against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was poised for launch into the Red Sea early on January 27th. The attack on the USS Carney signifies the first instance of direct targeting by the Houthis of a U.S. warship since their assaults on shipping commenced in October. 

The intensifying military standoff between the United States and Houthi militants poses a heightened risk of exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. In a nation where aid organizations were already grappling to address pressing needs, the potential consequences of this escalating conflict are particularly concerning. Yemen heavily relies on imports to meet the vast majority of its requirements for food, medicine, and fuel. Humanitarian groups express concern that the U.S. designation may jeopardize the fragile period of reduced hostilities and might encourage other nations to implement their own restrictions. This situation raises fears of further disruptions to the already challenging task of delivering essential aid to those in need.

Syria

Syria remains caught in the middle of a proxy war between Iran and Israel. Iran has claimed Israeli espionage and has retaliated by sending airstrikes that have killed four civilians. Turkey remains uncooperative in de-escalating violence as Turkish airstrikes in a recent series of overnight raids have destroyed 23 intended targets in Syria. Violence between Syria and the Islamic State has unfortunately increased as 14 Syrian soldiers have died due to an attack on an army bus in the Syrian desert. 

At least 10 civilians have died in the Syrian province of Sweida due to suspected Jordanian airstrikes. Jordan has made previous campaigns in Sweida to combat the drug trafficking in the region, but both Syrian and Jordanian civilians living near the border of the respective countries have come out and asked for a ceasefire. Jordan has not claimed involvement but is facing significant backlash due to the deaths of women and children.

Palestine

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to enact emergency measures to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians and prevent genocide. While it has yet to declare if genocide has occurred in Gaza, this is an important ruling that could serve to improve conditions for the numerous Palestinians under attack. An estimated 25,105 Palestinians have been killed and a further 62,681 have been wounded. Atrocities continue to occur, including an Israeli attack on a hospital serving as a shelter for 8,000 people in the city of Khan Younis. Last week, Israeli special forces infiltrated another hospital disguised as civilians and staff to kill three men. While Israel has claimed that Hamas is using hospitals as a cover for military operations, these attacks endanger civilians.

Despite this, peace talks are underway. U.S. officials have proposed an initial 30-day temporary ceasefire aimed at facilitating the release of remaining female, elderly, and wounded Israeli hostages. Subsequently, a second 30-day pause would be proposed for the release of Israeli soldiers and male hostages, coinciding with an increase in the flow of aid allowed into Gaza. The intention behind the cessation of hostilities is to create an opportunity for the negotiation of a more enduring, long-term ceasefire, but without a permanent end, violence may continue. Neither side can agree, as Hamas has rejected any deal that does not guarantee this permanent ceasefire and Israel has done the same for any deal involving a Palestinian state.

At the same time, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland have joined the United States, Australia, and Canada in suspending funding for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine). The decision comes after UNRWA initiated an investigation into twelve staff members accused of participating in the October 7 attack led by Hamas, resulting in 1,140 casualties. Nine have since been fired, two are under investigation, and one remains unidentified. This funding pause is expected to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as Palestinians have cautioned. Prior to the conflict, about half of Gaza’s population heavily relied on UNRWA assistance, which includes essential services such as education, medical care, support for local bakeries, and the operation of desalination plants to ensure access to clean water.

East and Southeast Asia

Burma

Conflict has continued throughout the month as ethnic resistance groups clashed with the Burmese military. The Araken Army claimed control over the town of Palewa near the border shared with India and Bangladesh, and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army took over the town of Kokang in the northern Shan State. China managed to broker a temporary ceasefire on January 12 between Burma and an alliance of multiple armed groups, but issues arose. Both sides agreed to cease attacks, but fighting broke out again two days after the agreement was made.

The military junta has also faced backlash for not releasing a single political prisoner among the over 9,000 prisoners pardoned in celebration of Burma’s Independence Day. Experts have classified this move as an appeal by the Tatmadaw to promote progress, improve their image, and erase their injustices and crimes. This move was also heavily criticized by Burmese citizens as a political prisoner Ko San Lin San was beaten to death by the Tatmadaw and filmmaker Shin Daewe was sentenced as life-sentence on the grounds of terrorism.

East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China)

On January 19, East Turkistan Genocide Recognition and Remembrance Day took place. The day serves as a day of remembrance for those persecuted in East Turkistan and to remind that the genocide of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples is still ongoing. Three years before, the United States formally recognized China’s atrocities committed against ethnic minorities in the region. Millions are still enslaved in ethnic cleansing concentration camps in inhumane conditions. They are forced to give up their entire cultural background and have had numerous violations of basic human rights, ranging from being forced to eat meat against their will to being subjected to forced sterilization, a measure in effect to essentially wipe out their population. Thus, this day is not only extremely important to honor victims in East Turkistan, but also to educate people across the world and encourage global support. 

North America

United States

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is January 27, which commemorates the 79th anniversary of the Soviet army’s liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany released a demographic report that reveals there are 245,000 Jewish Holocaust survivors alive today – 16% of which live in the United States. Around 95% of survivors were children during the Holocaust who now range in age between 79 and 96. As the population of Jewish Holocaust survivors grow older, it is vital to preserve the history of the Holocaust by supporting legislation like the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act (H.R.603) and state-level genocide education initiatives, such as the new bill proposed by Washington state (Senate Bill 5851). Adding to the urgency of this issue, the Anti-Defamation League has recorded 3,291 antisemitic hate incidents in the last three months alone, a close second to the amount recorded during the entire year of 2022. 

Additionally, the United States is considering expanding the Family Expedited Removal Management program, which rushes asylum-seeking families through the deportation process within a few days of arrival before they get a chance to get a lawyer, prepare their case, or present it properly. It is also a program of mass surveillance, requiring ankle monitors, curfews, and GPS tracking. This news is concerning for human rights, and comes at the same time as many politicians are calling for crackdowns on undocumented immigration. A group of 61 Republican members of the House of Representatives declared that they will not support any national defense spending bill without hardline immigration legislation including the return of the Remain in Mexico policy.

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Alishba Waqar is a senior at Westfield High School. They contributed to the Palestine and Yemen portion of this update.

Anika Gera is a junior at Terre Haute South Vigo High School. She contributed to the United States and East Turkistan portion of this update.

Anne-Sophie Hellman is a senior at Buffalo State University majoring in History. She contributed to the United States portion of this update. 

Grace Harris is a junior at UCLA studying International Development Studies. She contributed to the Tigray portion of this update.

Jerry Harris is a graduate student at George Mason University in the Mass Atrocity and Genocide Prevention certificate program. He contributed to the Sudan portion of this update.

Mira Mehta is a junior at Brown University studying Economics and International & Public Affairs. She contributed to the Cameroon portion of this update.

Seng Hkawn Myitung is a junior at Albemarle High school. She contributed to the Burma and Syria portion of this update.

Africa

Sudan

Since the start of the war in April, fighting has continued between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Force (RSF), a rival paramilitary group. This has resulted in a humanitarian crisis that has displaced five million people who have fled to neighboring countries. The United States has imposed sanctions on the RSF due to human rights abuses and pledged $163 million dollars in aid to help with responding to this crisis. Not only has violence engulfed the region, but disease has also been spreading to fleeing communities. In the eastern part of Sudan, cholera and dengue fever outbreaks have been spreading due to overcrowded conditions in refugee camps. This has put a strain on resources, making the need for humanitarian aid even greater.

Humanitarian aid workers have described relief work amidst the conflict as planning for the apocalypse as more armed groups have joined the conflict and violence has spread to other parts of the country, exacerbating existing problems. Because of this, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution to investigate any human rights abuses in the country. As the conflict reaches its sixth month, peace talks are still on the table to resolve the conflict and end the violence despite existing tensions. Both the Sudanese military and the RSF have once again began negotiations. There have been nine previous ceasefire agreements, but all have failed to end the conflict. There are still fears of this one being broken as the RSF claims to have taken control of Sudan’s second largest city and recently seized an airport as well. Nonetheless, it is a positive sign.

Tigray, Ethiopia

Nearly a year after the war ended, atrocities are still taking place in Tigray. The UN has found that the Ethiopian government failed to protect Tigrayans from violence and human rights abuses at the hands of militia groups and Eritrean troops who have yet to leave the country despite the demands of the ceasefire agreement. This heightens the risk of further conflict, particularly since all eight of the most common genocide and atrocity risk factors are present in Ethiopia.

Despite this, the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) was not renewed by the UN for this year. Members of the investigation emphasized the importance of further work in the region, particularly since conditions have declined since the ceasefire.

Furthermore, Tigray remains in desperate need of aid. Around 5.4 million people out of the region’s total population of 6 million require humanitarian assistance, which was suspended in March. While corrupt officials conspired to steal grain, leading to the implementation of this policy, it has only put vulnerable people at risk of starvation.

Cameroon

In September, the Cameroonian military conducted a raid that killed a separatist leader and four collaborators and displayed his body in a public square. Some separatist leaders claimed that government troops were also killed during this raid, though official government sources deny this. In the aftermath of this incident, violence has continued, including separatists’ execution on October 4 of two civilians accused of being spies.

On October 6, US Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas announced that the US would extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonians. This status allows people to legally live and work in the US for a specified time period, typically while they are fleeing a crisis. Approximately 2,000 Cameroonians have already been granted TPS and will be able to stay in the US until June 2025 due to this extension, and an estimated 8,000 more will now be able to apply for TPS.

Southwest Asia 

Yemen 

Talks and negotiations in Saudi Arabia have sparked hope for a lasting ceasefire. According to the U.S. Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, significant developments have been made over the last few weeks between the Houthi delegation and Saudi Arabia, with both sides meeting in person to discuss the war. With 18 months of relative de-escalation and no cross border attacks, Lenderking is hopeful that the decade-long conflict might come to an end. While each side has different objectives, their continued negotiations following the official end to the truce are a good sign.

However, tensions with neighboring countries could pose a problem for this peace process. On October 27th, a Houthi drone injured six people in major explosions, hitting two Egyptian towns. According to US officials, this drone was meant to target Israel. This runs the risk of trapping Yemen in yet another cycle of conflict that could cause the war in Yemen to pick back up. Further involvement in other wars runs the risk of provoking retaliatory strikes from the US and its allies as well. 

Syria

In Aleppo, Arab tribesmen briefly took control over two villages in a stand against the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Ongoing tensions and conflict have resulted in 45 casualties since the latest outbreak of violence, including civilians and children. A camp for internally displaced people (IDP) was also shelled by Syrian forces, killing two. This is the latest in a string of attacks on IDP camps

In a graduation ceremony at a military college in the Homs province, a drone attack killed 100 people and left 240 more victims wounded. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The attack has been perceived as a significant blow to Syria as attacks continue to target the northwestern provinces of Syria. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for immediate de-escalation and continues to urge them to follow UN Security Council resolutions. Conflict has also continued throughout October, with attacks by the Syrian and Russian governments killing 65 civilians and injuring 265 more. This is the most intense military escalation in nearly three years.

In response to the current political situation, hundreds of Syrians protested in southern Syria urging President Bashar al-Assad to step down, most notably in the government-held Sweida. The protests were initially driven by the war-torn country’s surging inflation and worsening economy, but have quickly shifted to call for the al-Assad government to step down. These protests have quickly turned violent as at least three protesters were wounded amid gunfire. 

Palestine

On October 7th, Hamas launched a massive assault in Southern Israel, one of its deadliest assaults in years. An estimated 1,400 people were killed in the attack and 242 were taken hostage. So far, only 4 have been released and 1 has been rescued. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, beginning renewed attacks in Gaza. On October 9th, the Defence Minister of Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza, blocking all access to electricity, food, water, gas, and other essentials. 

The blockade is enforced and thoroughly monitored by Israeli tanks and drones at the Gaza-Israel border fence. Although some relief vehicles have been allowed to pass the Rafah crossing, UN representatives stress that considerably more aid is required to address basic human requirements. Gas for backup generators, which power incubators and other vital equipment, has been scarce in hospitals due to Israel’s blockade on fuel deliveries to Gaza, forcing the region’s lone power plant to close.

The humanitarian crisis in Palestine is rapidly aggravating an already dire situation as Israeli airstrikes and lack of necessities increase the death toll. With almost 2 million civilians populated in a 139-square-mile territory, the Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas on Earth. According to The Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll among Palestinains has passed 7,000. Furthermore, Israel has ordered the evacuation of 1 million people in 24 hours from northern Gaza. As they evacuated, 70 were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Both the blockade and Israeli siege of the region are still in effect now. 

East and Southeast Asia

Burma

Over the last few months, the Burmese military junta has targeted medical facilities and staff in rural areas with airstrikes and raids. It has attacked medical facilities using a map of public hospitals and clinics it created in 2019, and according to recent investigations, has destroyed all but one in a specific area of the country affected by fighting. Additionally, at least 29 people were killed and 59 people were injured in a military raid at an IDP camp, a camp for internally displaced people, in the Kachin state. As the death toll of anti-junta soldiers rises, these attacks have been condemned by the U.S. State Department.

The United Kingdom, Canada, and Taiwan have condemned Burma for the recent purges on political opponents as well. As Burma prepares for next year’s elections, many experts have criticized these actions and its plans to tightly control elections as a way of getting rid of potential rivals and maintaining control over the public. The U.S. has also approved an additional $116 million in humanitarian aid for Burma, Bangladesh, and surrounding regions to support Rohingya refugees who have fled Burma. 

After a failure to implement the five-point consensus plan to end the crisis in Burma, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has condemned the continuation of violence in Burma. The nation will now be barred from high-profile ASEAN events because of its continued attacks on civilians and lack of compliance with the agreement. A spokesperson from the junta has rejected the statement from ASEAN, claiming that its perspective was not taken into account when drafting the consensus. Burma was originally slated to chair the 10-member regional grouping meeting in 2026, but the other regional leaders have now agreed that the Philippine would assume that role instead.

East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China)

The 74th anniversary of China’s invasion of the East Turkistan region was condemned on October 12th by many Uyghurs advocating for the national sovereignty of the people of East Turkistan. The region is still struggling to restore equity and freedom, and it is important to recognize the false statements China continues to release about the situational aspects of the institutions which Uyghur muslims are being forced into. The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) continues to call for international recognition of the East Turkistan region and the genocide still taking place there.

Additionally, a document written by a senior Chinese official was recently released, stating that Dr. Rahile Dawut, a Uyghur professor and ethnographer, had been sentenced to life in prison on charges of endangering national security. She went missing in 2017 and is just one of the many Uyghur Muslims who have been subject to unjust maltreatment by the Chinese government. Her story represents the ongoing struggle of the Uyghur Muslims, as well as other Muslim ethnic minorities who strive to protect themselves, their families, and their cultures.

The Chinese government continues to violate international human rights and conceal this oppression by labeling camps as vocational education and training centers. Uyghur inmates at Keriye Prison in East Turkistan (Xinjiang) China have been forced into labor in poor conditions for long hours in fields and factories. While the Chinese government claims that these work programs are economically beneficial, they only further the exploitation of the Uyghur people. The abuses of Uyghur Muslims in the Keriye Prison are part of a wider scale of abuses in East Turkistan that are still denied by China.

North America

United States

Gun violence continues to run rampant in the U.S. with 587 mass shootings taking place so far in 2023. Continued shootings across the country only spark up more debates about gun control and gun violence across the country. The 500th mass shooting was marked in the Gun Violence Archive after a deadly shooting in Denver, Colorado occurred, leaving four wounded and a fifth victim later discovered. Another attack in Lewiston, Maine left 18 dead and 13 injured in the deadliest shooting in the entire history of the state. 

Jewish and Palestinian communities in the United States are grieving the monumental loss of civilian lives in Israel and Palestine following escalated violence and renewed global attention to the conflict. Social tensions, political divides, and misinformation have grown exponentially in the wake of this catastrophe. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic hate incidents are already at a three-year high. Additionally, the FBI reported 158 Islamophobic and 92 anti-Arab hate incidents in 2022. This month, Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian Muslim boy in Illinois, was murdered during a hate crime that also severely injured his mother. Peace organizations like Solutions Not Sides are urging people to be mindful of rhetoric that fuels antisemitism and Islamophobia when addressing current events. 

In other news, President Joe Biden requested around $14 billion of military aid for Israel and allocated $100 million of humanitarian aid for Gaza. Representative Cori Bush and others introduced a Ceasefire Now Resolution. However, the United States vetoed a resolution for a ceasefire at the United Nations Security Council. Amid nationwide protests, Jewish Voice for Peace staged a rally at the National Mall and a sit-in at the Capitol to express solidarity with Palestinians. Two Israeli-American hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan, were the first to be released by the terrorist group, Hamas, while above 200 people remain in captivity. 

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Alishba Waqar is a senior at Westfield High School. She contributed to the Yemen and Palestine portions of this update.

Anne-Sophie Hellman is a senior at Buffalo State University majoring in History. She contributed to the United States portion of this update. 

Anika Gera is a junior at Terre Haute South Vigo High School. She contributed to the East Turkistan and United States portions of this update.

Grace Harris is a junior at UCLA majoring in International Development Studies. She contributed to the Tigray, Ethiopia portion of this update. 

Jerry Harris is a graduate student at George Mason University in the Mass Atrocity and Genocide Prevention certificate program. He contributed to the Sudan portion of this update.

Seng Hkawn Myitung is a junior at Albemarle High School. They contributed to the Burma and Syria portions of this update.

Mira Mehta is a junior at Brown University studying economics and international & public affairs.  She contributed to the Cameroon portion of this update.