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The Ukraine Effect on Refugees Worldwide

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On February 24 2022, Russia launched an attack on its neighboring country Ukraine. This tense war has continued for over a year, resulting in airstrikes and bombings on both sides. Over 9,000 civilians have died in Ukraine and even more have been displaced. Around 6 million people have been displaced within Ukraine and 8 million refugees have left the country. Yet still, 17.6 million still need aid within the country. The world has opened its doors to help Ukraine in many ways. Whether it be supplying weapons or economic boycotts on Russia, democratic countries across the globe rushed to aid the small country. 

As the world scrambles to help Ukraine, many have noticed a so-called Ukraine Effect. The effect is two fold. On one hand, countries began to focus more efforts and aid to Ukraine, while on the other, taking aid away from other countries. In Europe, Ukrainian refugees have gained access to health care, education and job opportunities while the repatriation of refugees from Syria and other Middle East countries has been instated. Recently, Hungary offered aid to around 600,000 Ukrainian refugees, but expelled thousands of Syrian refugees. Syria has been at war for 11 years and donors are losing interest in the cause while they rush to help Ukraine. This can be seen within UN funding as Ukrainian aid is 78% funded while Syrian aid is only 47% funded. While some tie the suddenness of Ukraine’s war to the amount of aid, other countries have also been suddenly thrown into peril. Afghanistan underwent a sudden dramatic change in 2021, yet aid is only 59% funded. These slashes in funding have real time effects. Food rations have been instituted in Yemen, a nation already dealing with famine and food insecurity. Somalia almost declared an official famine in 2022 with 7.8 million people in crisis levels of hunger and 700,000 starving in 2023. Despite this, the UN received only 57% of the 2.3 billion dollars of aid requested, and the money came in late.

Other problems have also been heightened because of the war in Ukraine. Russia has fueled another global food crisis by driving up prices and wheat supplies. This affects countries in the Black Sea and worsens problems in Yemen and Somalia. Additionally, as Russia causes inflation in countries like Lebanon and Turkey, it takes away from their spending to Syrian refugees.

While Europe has accepted the most Ukrainian refugees, other powerful countries’ treatment of refugees has been brought to light.  Within the US, there is discrimination against refugees, especially from South America. The number of people displaced by the Venezuelan refugee crisis is very similar to the amount of refugees from Ukraine, at 6.8 million refugees and migrants. However, in 2022 the $1.79 billion regional response plan was less than 14% funded by the time that the $1.85 billion Ukraine regional plan was 62% funded. Despite this, the conflicts between Ukraine and Venezuela do have stark differences. While Ukraine’s refugee crisis appeared suddenly and in the face of a war, Venezuela’s crisis developed over years and has been affected by many factors, not just war. Venezuelan refugees leave because of a lack of food and medicine and an increase in violence and death, all worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, many refugees do not get the help they need in the US because of the politicalization of the issue. 

Migrants and refugees are being used as political stunt props as they are sent on buses from state to state. While President Biden extended Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelan refugees in 2021, the project is still very underfunded. 

Going forward, the US must work to depoliticize the issue of immigration and refugees. Countries across the world must work to help refugees from all countries and follow through on their promises.

Ultimately, the Ukraine Effect demonstrates the need to reform systems of global aid and assistance. It should go beyond temporary food provisions that can be taken away if funds are reallocated and center long-term goals like building infrastructure, making transportation accessible and strengthening equal education systems. Long-term aid must focus not only on providing necessities, but also providing training and opportunities to empower those who need it.

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Krisna Kumar is a senior at Friends School of Baltimore. She is interested in human rights and diplomacy and has been a member of STAND’s Yemen, Burma, United States, and East Turkistan action committees since last spring.

 

STAND Conflict Update: May 2023

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Northeast Africa

Sudan

May marked one month since fighting began in Sudan. Since the latest escalation in April, this conflict has left approximately 550 people dead and more than 4,900 people wounded. The Khartoum region has faced a plethora of bomb explosions and air raids, including a school in Darfur that was burned down. The UN refugee agency stated that the number of people seeking refuge in another country due to conflict will reach 860,000 people. 

Additionally, in response to the conflict, the World Health Organization provided 30 tons of medical supplies to Sudan. This is one of the first shipments to arrive in Sudan since the fighting began. The WHO plans to send more shipments to Khartoum in order to supply hospitals with adequate resources to respond to the fighting as soon as it is able to get the clearance to do so. Likewise, other countries have been making an effort to provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan.

While the situation seemed to be improving as negotiations between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took place, agreeing on a week-long ceasefire, both sides seemed to ignore the agreement and continued fighting. On May 31, the last day of the month, Sudan’s army withdrew from the agreement, citing this ceasefire violation and criticizing the RSF for their lack of commitment to negotiations. 

South Sudan

Tens of thousands of people fleeing violence in Sudan have entered South Sudan. With little infrastructure to support them and interethnic tensions already high, this has created fears about how sustainable this will be in the future. Already, there have been interethnic conflicts over limited resources, which have further displaced people. In addition, because South Sudan has historically relied on trade with Sudan to support its economy and to provide important supplies, the war has led to a spike in food prices, making resources even more scarce and inaccessible. While violent incidents have occurred at a relatively small scale thus far, there are concerns that they might escalate. South Sudanese officials have helped to mediate conflict in Sudan, but during this time, peace talks within the country have not made any progress. The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan has warned that the country is behind in the peace process and in achieving the goals of the transitional government, including writing a new constitution. More economic support and political progress will be necessary to prevent larger ethnic conflict.

Tigray, Ethiopia

May 2 marked six months since the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and began working towards lasting peace. While significant progress has been made so far, there are still complications, particularly regarding the involvement of the neighboring Eritrean military. While both signing parties agreed to the removal of Eritrean troops months ago, they have yet to withdraw. This is a major point of contention due to the atrocities they committed against Tigrayan civilians during the war on the side of the Ethiopian government. Recently, thousands of people protested in Tigray to demand the withdrawal of all foreign troops. They also sought to aid the return of those displaced by two years of conflict.

Humanitarian aid access has also been made more difficult by these tensions. Early this month, both USAID and the World Food Programme ended food shipments to Tigray after discovering they were being sold on the black market instead of given to those most in need. There are still 20 million people in need of humanitarian aid in the region, and conditions will likely worsen as a result of this. Furthermore, remaining Eritrean forces blocked a United Nations humanitarian mission from entering a village in Tigray. Locals reported that atrocities are still being committed by the Eritrean military, adding to the urgency of their withdrawal. Aside from blocking humanitarian aid, they continue to commit rape and sexual violence and destroy local infrastructure. Eritrea’s government denies any involvement.

Central Africa

Cameroon

On May 20, Cameroon observed National Unity Day. While some people saw the occasion as a chance to celebrate peace and come together, conflict between anglophone separatists and government forces has continued with little interruption or progress towards peace. The same day, thirty elderly women who had protested the taxes separatists placed on residents of the predominantly English-speaking Northwest region were abducted. The women were released three days later after experiencing torture. This came after 50 women had been abducted, beaten, and released on May 19. Civilians have also faced violence at the hands of government forces. Those who have reported on the conflict have been arrested, with some even dying while in custody. Despite claims of unity, the divisions and violence remain.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

While violence has been ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the region was also recently swept up in a deadly natural disaster. Around 400 people were killed in floods that affected much of East Africa, including the DRC, which has hampered aid efforts. These events, including a recent attack by a rebel group that killed 17, make the violence seem everlasting as people continue to be displaced, still have no access to food, and remain exposed to many diseases with little healthcare services.

Despite this, the DRC has registered around 43.9 million people to vote in the upcoming election in December. Opposition groups have complained about irregularities in polling and led protests against the government. Hopefully change can take place as a result and bring about a lasting peace in the region.

Southwest Asia 

Yemen

Procedures to remove 1.1 million barrels of oil from a deteriorating tanker anchored off Yemen’s coast will begin soon, according to the UN. The tanker may release four times the amount of oil as the 1989 Exxon Valdez catastrophe off Alaska, according to U.N. authorities, putting the Red Sea and Yemen’s coastline at risk. With Yemen’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, oil leaks or an explosion could cause a significant environmental catastrophe. The Houthis currently control the region where the tanker is docked and view the oil as a possible resource.

Despite this, progress continues with Yemen’s ceasefire agreement. The UN has noted that all sides seem willing to participate in the process and important gains have been made, although 21.6 million people are still in need of humanitarian aid. While the war seems to be over for now, this has not ended human suffering in the country. The Houthis continue to target the Baha’i community, a religious minority group in Yemen, and recently detained and disappeared 17 Baha’is  who were meeting at a community gathering. This is just the latest move in a history of persecution.

Syria

Israel’s air strikes have recently targeted the international airport in Aleppo. This attack killed one Syrian soldier and put the airport out of commission. This is a harmful development, as the airport has been crucial in efforts to bring in humanitarian aid during the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Syria in February. Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks on Syria in the hopes of stopping Iranian influence on other countries. 

Turkish intelligence has also claimed to have killed Abu al-Hussein al-Qurayshi, the leader of ISIS. Syria and ISIS have not commented, but Turkish occupation in Syria continues despite the tension between the two countries. This comes at the same time as Russia, Turkey, and Syria are holding talks in Moscow and all sides are striving to work with each other. 

Palestine

Israel is responsible for the deaths of five members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC) in an explosion in eastern Lebanon, close to the Syrian border. Unnamed Israeli sources, however, claimed to news organizations that Israel was not responsible for the attack. Israeli officials, the Lebanese army, and the Hezbollah organization, which is sponsored by Iran, all remained silent. There were conflicting accounts from Palestinian and Lebanese sources that the explosion was caused by mines going off while being relocated or by an outdated rocket exploding in an armaments storage.

Additionally, for the first time in history, the United Nations commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, the mass displacement of Palestinians during the construction of the modern state of Israel. This is an important step of global recognition, particularly as violence continues in Gaza, putting countless civilians at risk. The UN has condemned this as well. Israel called for its allies to boycott this event, and the US was one of a few countries that did not attend.

East and South Asia

Burma

As violence in Burma has increased, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have become increasingly concerned that their efforts to control violence have been ignored by the country’s military-led government. On May 9, the military used a vacuum bomb in an air attack that killed more than 160 people in the Sagaing region. The junta continues to blame independent resistance groups, yet their destruction and violence has increased and they are now targeting smaller villages and community centers. Members of organizations like Human Rights Watch say that this is more proof that other countries need to impose stricter sanctions and cut off funding for the junta’s arms and jet fuel.

Cyclone Mocha also has increased the need for humanitarian aid in Burma. Sittwe, the capital city of the Rakhine state and home to many Rohingya, has been badly damaged. Many homes have been destroyed and countless people have been displaced as numbers continue to rise. Both the total damage and aid needed are hard to evaluate because of the sheer destruction of the cyclone.

East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China) 

This month, human rights groups reported that Abuduwaili Abudureheman, a Uyghur scholar born in East Turkistan, went missing after arriving in Hong Kong. In his last known encounter, Abudureheman was reported to have texted his friend that he was being questioned at the city’s airport. In an announcement last Tuesday, Amnesty International noted that he was accounted for, reiterating that while he was actually safe in this case, they will continue to do all they can to support those who believe their loved ones are in danger of human rights violations. Notably, the announcement contradicted previous accounts in reporting that Abudureheman didn’t voluntarily travel to Hong Kong, contributing to the unusual circumstances surrounding his disappearance. 

In response to the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan, the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party held two panels. The first panel recorded first-hand testimonials from survivors of camps in East Turkistan, while the second one was composed of experts on the subject. Drawing upon testimonials from both panels, the Committee provided legislative recommendations for Congress that include putting sanctions on tech companies using Uyghur forced labor, restricting investment from American actors towards sanctioned Chinese companies, strengthening US-funded groups like Radio Free Asia that report human rights violations in East Turkistan,  eliminating alleged loopholes in the Uygur Forced Labor Prevention Act. While the report advises action, it is worth noting that the bipartisan committee of 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats is unable to draft or amend laws to be voted on by Congress. 

Kashmir

India, the host of the G20 Summit this year, plans to host the summit in Kashmir. China has chosen to boycott the summit, as Chinese representatives have spoken and said that they refuse to participate in any event in the disputed territory. 

At the same time, rebels opposing Indian rule in Kashmir killed 5 soldiers in a recent altercation with the military. This is one of the major attacks that has happened in Kashmir in the past two weeks, and security has been heightened due to the upcoming G20 Summit. India has claimed that Pakistan is training rebels while Pakistan has not responded to these claims. In response, the Indian army killed 2 rebels in Kashmir and continues to watch over Kashmir. The National Investigation Agency of India has also ramped up their searches and efforts to dismantle rebel groups. More than a dozen raids have been conducted in the Agency’s increased terror efforts to prevent rebel sympathizers.

North America

United States 

May has seen a wave of transgender healthcare bans in various states. Texas passed a bill that banned transgender medical care for youth, including hormone, puberty, and surgical treatments. Children that are already getting these treatments may continue but are required to slowly stop these forms of treatment eventually. This bill drew outrage from many, inspiring protests. This is the largest transgender ban for youth in the US. Similarly, Nebraska also passed transgender health bans for youth. This bill bans surgeries for trans youth starting on October 1. Nebraska also passed an abortion ban that limits abortions after 12 weeks. North Carolina overrode its governor’s veto of a similar law and continued a 12 week abortion ban. While the ban is now in place, the override had a very slim majority in the state legislative body. 

There have also been freedom of speech concerns after Montana banned the use of the social media platform TikTok. Many constitutional researchers and TikTok users believe this ban is unconstitutional as it impedes on free speech. Some TikTok users even sued the state because of the ban. The predicted conclusion of the lawsuit is unknown. 

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. His actions as governor concern many human rights activists. His previous bills include a six week abortion ban, the creation of a low threshold for death penalty sentences, lessened gun control, and a ban on sexual orientation and gender identity education in elementary and middle schools. 

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

Allison Weiner is a sophomore at DePauw University majoring in Global Health, and minoring in Peace and Conflict Studies. She contributed to the Sudan portion of this update. 

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

Jerry Harris is a recent graduate of George Mason University with a BA in Psychology. He contributed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo portion of this update.

Krisna Kumar is a junior at Friends School of Baltimore. She contributed to the United States portion of this update.

Mira Mehta is a sophomore at Brown University. She contributed to the South Sudan and Cameroon portions of this update.

Robert Liu is a junior at Durham Academy. They contributed to the East Turkistan portion of this update.

Seng Hkawn Myitung is a sophomore at Albemarle High School. She contributed to the Burma, Syria, and Kashmir portions of this update.

Solidarity and Action for MMIWG2S

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Today, May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People. Often abbreviated as MMIWG2S, this day is a solemn remembrance of the countless Native people who have been harmed by gender-based violence. Statistics show that four in five Native women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetimes and are murdered at a rate ten times higher than the national average. In 2021, 5,203 Indigenous women were reported as missing by the FBI National Crime Information Center. Young women are primarily targeted, but cases of missing and murdered Indigenous members of the LGBTQ+ community are often underreported.

However, the real human impact goes far beyond statistics. Every day, another Indigenous woman goes missing. Families and communities are torn apart when they lose someone they care about. It is devastating to lose a friend, relative, or community member. Countless Native women across generations have grown up with the fear that they could be assaulted, kidnapped, or murdered simply for being an Indigenous woman. Even young girls are aware of the danger they are in. For them, MMIWG2S is impossible to ignore, yet much of the rest of the country pays little attention to it.

Canada has recognized the crisis of MMIWG2S as a genocide, but the US government has yet to do so. Systemic state violence and the legacies of colonialism and gendered colonial oppression all work to perpetuate this crisis. Institutions that claim to protect the people, such as the police, the legal system, and the entire federal government, fail to do so, and often are active perpetrators of violence. Proportionately, Native people are killed by police more than any other group. They face racist, discriminatory courts when trying to get legal justice for their relatives and community-members, and MMIWG2S are given little media attention.

MMIWG2S is a continuaion of the initial genocide and settler colonialism that founded the United States centuries ago. Since the late 15th century, Indigenous people have been attacked, killed, enslaved, stripped of their lands, forcibly sterilized, sent to reservations and residential schools, and forced to abandon their culture. Today, the legacies of this injustice are ongoing. Voting rights restrictions, the building of environmentally-destructive pipelines in sacred lands, and attempts to overturn policies like the Indian Child Welfare Act all serve as extensions of colonial violence. MMIWG2S exemplifies this along multiple axes of oppression. Colonial racism and gender-based violence intersect to create this crisis. It is not simply violence against women or Native people, but specific violence targeting Native women at the intersections of these identities, along with queer, nonbinary, and Two-Spirit people who also face gender-based oppression. 

It is clear that action is needed. Here at STAND, we stand in solidarity with the Indigenous communities working to protect themselves from systemic racist violence and honor the memory of all MMIWG2S. This list of resources provides hotlines for Indigenous women and all people experiencing violence, relevant government reports and scholarly articles, and a list of organizations currently taking action. You can also attend one of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center’s virtual events today to learn more or take action to support Indigenous women here. If you want to learn more about the work that STAND does to address atrocities against Indigenous communities, you can sign up for our United States Action Committee here.

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Grace Harris is a second-year International Development Studies major at UCLA who serves as the United States Action Committee Lead for STAND. She is also an Education and Outreach Co-Lead. This is her third year on STAND’s Managing Committee.

STAND Conflict Update: April 2023

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Northeast Africa

Sudan

On April 15, violence broke out in the cities of Khartoum and Obdurman in Sudan. The fighting is ongoing, and has killed more than 420 innocent civilians so far, with one being a United States citizen. According to a Sudanese medical group, there has been a significant amount of destruction done to the city of Khartoum. Civilians who have been affected by this fighting are still trying to flee and reach safety. There were several ceasefire attempts made three separate times, all of which have failed. 

Disagreements between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are the reason for this violent outbreak. While the leaders of the two forces united in 2019 to overthrow Omar al-Bashir, the former dictator of Sudan, there were power struggles after the fact when Sudan decided that it was going to form a new government that involved both civilians and military officials. Eventually, the goal was to create a government that was fully run by civilians. Instead, the army and RSF broke out into conflict because of disagreements over which military branch was going to lead the government. As a result of the attack, all United States military and government employees have been evacuated from the country, and there has been no breaks in the conflict since it began.

South Sudan

On April 24, approximately 10,000 civilians fleeing the escalating conflict in Sudan arrived in South Sudan. While the majority of these people were South Sudanese, many Sudanese refugees were included among them as well. This influx of people represents one of many ways South Sudan will be impacted by violence in Sudan. South Sudan’s oil industry, which is a key component of the country’s economy, relies on a pipeline that runs through Sudan. The industry is already struggling due to infrastructure challenges, and further pressure could have serious humanitarian and political consequences. In addition to this, the transitional government in place in South Sudan remains fragile, and Sudanese leaders have helped to mediate conflicts and preserve unity in the past. These leaders will likely be unable to fulfill the same role while embroiled in their own conflict, which creates new risks and challenges in South Sudan.

South Sudan continues to experience violence and challenges to governance within the country as well. In recognition of this situation, the UN Human Rights Council renewed the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan on April 3, despite protests from the government. This is meant to provide greater accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations, though it is unclear how this will happen without support from the government.

Tigray, Ethiopia

Despite an official end to the war and the commitment of both sides to the peace agreement, many Tigrayans are still reckoning with the aftermath of the conflict and atrocities they faced during it. Over the last three years, 380,000 civilians and 253,000 military forces were killed, tens of thousands of women were raped, and millions of people were cut off from food and other necessary resources due to the blockade. Countless people have come forward to share their stories about the atrocities they were subject to at the hands of Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers. Despite these horrors, many are optimistic that change is possible.

There have been multiple important developments in Ethiopia’s peace process this month. First, schools in Tigray have begun registering students in preparation for the upcoming school year. This is the first time classes will have been held in the region in three years. Administrators plan to start classes on May 2, and are offering remedial education to help students make up for the last three years. This, alongside the reinstitution of communications, banking, and transportation, are all good signs for a lasting peace. Many prisoners of war have also been released in recent weeks.

Central Africa

Cameroon

Fighting between anglophone separatists and government forces has continued with little sign of ending. There has not been any further news about the peace talks Canada offered to help mediate at the beginning of the year, nor has there been significant progress on their business development initiative. In fact, government officials recently announced that their initiative to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by conflict over the past several years would need $100 million to be invested in addition to their original $150 million plan. While some projects have been successful, progress has been very slow, in part due to the fact that conflict is ongoing.  Officials have specifically accused separatists of seizing construction materials and attacking workers, citing this as the main cause for the delay.  Separatists have been known to justify the use of guerrilla tactics as a necessity against a more powerful army, though they have not commented on this particular situation.

At the same time as this conflict continues within the countries, civilians in Cameroon also face danger from cross-border attacks by militants, mainly members of Boko Haram, in the Central African Republic and Nigeria. In response to a spike in this violence, the government of Cameroon announced that it would redeploy troops to the border to help protect civilians.  It remains to be seen what this change in military resource allocation will mean for the course of conflict with anglophone separatists and for civilian trust in government.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Violence continues to be prevalent and tensions still remain high between rebel groups and the government of the DRC. In one week, the Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamic militant group, killed over 30 people in one attack and killed 22 people in another. This cycle of never-ending violence continues to traumatize the people of the DRC. Recently, reports have shown that at least 60 people have been killed by the M23 rebel group. This makes it all the more imperative to have these groups withdraw in order to fully investigate the atrocities they have committed and to provide aid to those who have been in the crossfire of this conflict.       

Southwest Asia 

Yemen

Yemen is currently at a crucial point in the peace process. Although the truce between warring sides in the conflict expired six months ago, critical progress is still being made. This is the longest period of peace in the nation since the war began eight years ago. Airports have reopened, food and fuel continue to flow into ports, and recently, 900 prisoners on all sides were released following a series of negotiations. There is still a lot that needs to be done to help the people of Yemen, who continue to suffer from the effects of years of war and a humanitarian crisis, but many remain optimistic that lasting peace is possible.

In Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, at least 78 people were killed and dozens more were injured in a crowd surge on April 19. This occurred during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan as people were receiving charity handouts from local merchants because someone was shooting in the air, causing panic among the people. A bullet hit an electrical wire, which fell on the ground and caused electroshocks. The tragedy was Yemen’s deadliest in years, even though it wasn’t directly correlated with the conflict in Yemen. Due to a lack of basic necessities, such as water, healthcare and education, the people of Sana’a found themselves desperate for a small amount of money, making violence and chaos occur. 

Syria

On April 25, Turkish, Russian, Iranian, and Syrian defense ministers and intelligence chiefs met in Moscow to discuss potential peace talks to rebuild relationships after years of war. While no definitive actions came from these talks, they were considered constructive and were an important first step for later action. All four countries reiterated their desire to preserve Syria’s original territory and the need to intensify efforts for the speedy return of Syrian refugees to their country. Syrian officials have reiterated that peace talks between Ankara and Damascus can only come after the removal of Turkish troops along northwest Syria.

Palestine

 On April 24, thousands of Israelis and Palestinians came together in a joint memorial ceremony to honor and remember the victims of the conflict. This was a powerful show of solidarity despite opposition from right-wing counter-protestors. While the Israeli government attempted to ban Palestinians from joining this memorial ceremony, this was overturned by the Supreme Court.

This show of peace comes at the same time as escalating violence in Jerusalem, a significant Muslim, Jewish, and Christian holy city. At the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, Israeli authorities made overnight worship illegal and banned many Palestinians from entering to pray. While people were praying inside the mosque earlier this month, police forces attacked them, injuring 12 people, arresting 400 others, and using violent force to stop further people from worshiping. Since then, retaliatory violence has erupted, with armed groups in Gaza and Lebanon sending rockets towards Israel and Israel carrying out airstrikes in both regions. In response to this, the UN has reaffirmed its calls for peace, declaring that the international community needs to strengthen Palestinian institutions and work towards a two-state solution.

East and South Asia

Burma

On Tuesday, April 11, the military junta bombed the Kant Balu township in the Sagaing region, killing around 100 people. The Nation Unity Government’s Ministry of Labour described the attack as a war crime. The military junta has not commented on the attack. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in a statement responding to the attacks, condemned the junta’s actions and reassured that the United States would continue to support Burma through the UN Security Council, other UN member states, and other partners like ASEAN.

Violence between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the junta has increased this month as the KNLA attacked military outposts and more than 80 people have died in Shwe Kokko. Some 10,000 Burmese people have fled to Thailand to escape fighting between the military and KNLA since the start of increased conflict at the beginning of this month. A singular monastery holds almost 500 refugees as the humanitarian crisis worsens, and is now reported that 1 in 3 Burmese persons are in need of humanitarian aid.  

East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China)

Since June of last year, the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA) has been in effect in order to ensure that products imported by the US are not made using forced labor in East Turkistan. However, a recent review by Reuters shows that the crackdown on imports from East Turkistan has harmed manufacturing in Vietnam, which depends on China for imported materials to make apparel and footwear. Due to Vietnam’s reliance on cotton textile materials from China, this could lead to difficulties in complying with the UFLPA affecting the nation’s trade with the US.

As a way to promote tourism in East Turkistan, a Chinese advertisement featured a Uyghur woman dancing in a mosque. Many Uyghurs in the diaspora have condemned this as an act of desecration. It is particularly noteworthy that this video took place during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, who have been persecuted by the Chinese government for their religion in the region. This is seen as a way for the Chinese government to erase and diminish their culture and language, turning important cultural and religious traditions into ads with no understanding of their history and importance.

Kashmir

A court in the Pakistan controlled region of Kashmir has recently removed a local leader and protégé of Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan from office because he made public remarks insulting judges. Another one of his allies was elected to this post as a replacement. Since his removal from power last April, Khan has remained outspoken about the current government.

While these internal disputes have been going on, violence has surged in Kashmir as five Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush near the Line of Control that separates the Indian and Pakistani controlled regions of Kashmir. They were killed in an ambush by a rebel group opposed to Indian control and oppression. At the moment, tensions remain high.

North America

United States 

Gun violence continues to run rampant in the United States, with a recent spree of shootings of people who accidentally walked up to the wrong house, made a U-turn in the wrong driveway, got in the wrong car, lost a ball in the wrong yard, argued with the wrong neighbor, and brought an instacart delivery to the wrong address. Very little change has been made to address this culture of violence in the name of self-defense.

Despite this, there have been some recent positive developments in the US legal system. First, neither Nebraska nor South Carolina was able pass a statewide abortion ban due to the abstention of a single vote in Nebraska and the efforts of five women to filibuster in South Carolina. Both states have a Republican majority, yet were unable to garner enough votes for an abortion ban. Despite the ongoing destruction of reproductive rights in the United States following the overturning of Roe V. Wade, this is an important move that will protect the rights of countless women and all people who can become pregnant. Additionally, Tennessee– a state that recently banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth– is currently being sued by the US Justice Department for this law. The Justice Department has declared that no person should be denied medical care for being transgender, and that this policy violates the equal protection clause of the US Constitution. If the lawsuit goes through, this could be a landmark case amidst the hundreds of proposed laws aimed at the destruction of trans rights.

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

Allison Weiner is a sophomore at DePauw University majoring in Global Health, and minoring in Peace and Conflict Studies. She contributed to the Sudan portion of this update. 

Grace Harris is a sophomore at UCLA majoring in International Development Studies. She contributed to the Tigray, Palestine, and United States portions of this update.

Jerry Harris is a recent graduate at George Mason University with a BA in Psychology. He contributed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Turkistan, and Kashmir portions of this update.

Mira Mehta is a sophomore at Brown University. She contributed to the South Sudan and Cameroon portions of this update.

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

April 2023 Lesson Plan: East Turkistan

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STAND’s Education team, with the help of the East Turkistan Action Committee, has put together a lesson plan that includes resources and activities designed to introduce students to key concepts relating to the East Turkistan priority area and the ongoing atrocities against Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups there. STAND encourages advisors and chapter leaders to adapt the plans to your own context, and do what works best for their members.

Download the lesson plan here

April 2023 East Turkistan Lesson PlanApril 2023 East Turkistan Lesson PlanApril 2023 East Turkistan Lesson PlanApril 2023 East Turkistan Lesson PlanApril 2023 East Turkistan Lesson Plan

STAND Conflict Update: March 2023

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Northeast Africa

Sudan

On March 11th, Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, along with the Rapid Support Forces leader, Mohamad Hamda Dagalo, met in Khartoum. There has been tension between the two groups, as the army is trying to gain authority over all of Sudan’s military forces, while the Rapid Support Forces are aiming for independence. 

This month, talks began about military reforms, which are a major aspect of the democratic transition. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan came out with a statement saying that the army will be run under a new civilian-led government. He also stated that it is time to end the dictatorship form of government that has been in place for so long and shift to a democracy. Additionally, he stated that part of the reform will include creating a military force that will remain separate from politics and that civilians can rely on for completing the shift to a more democratic state. 

South Sudan

The government of South Sudan resumed peace talks with holdout rebel groups before quickly adjourning to resolve differences on the structure of the negotiations. Rebel groups have asked for a conference that includes all relevant stakeholders, while the government would prefer to focus on only the issues they see as most relevant, picking up where they left off from the most recent round of negotiations. Talks are set to resume on May 8th.

At the same time, the government is facing its own rifts, which threaten a fragile peace agreement.  On March 8, President Salva Kiir dismissed the country’s foreign minister without any apparent reason. This came less than a week after he did the same to the country’s ministers of defense and interior, the former of whom is Vice President Riek Machar’s wife.  While Machar condemned the move, he has remained committed to the peace agreement that guides his and Kiir’s unity government. However, these developments indicate potentially fragility in the arrangement.

Tigray, Ethiopia

The US State Department, in its annual global human rights report, has determined that all sides of the conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia committed crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and sexual violence, persecution, civilian starvation, deportation, and the ethnic cleansing of Tigrayans. It is estimated that 500,000 civilians were killed in Tigray alone over the course of the two-year war. While important steps are being taken towards peace, it is necessary to reckon with the impact these atrocities have had on the people of Ethiopia.

On a more positive note, Ethiopia has established a new interim government in the region of Tigray. Getachew Reda, appointed by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was chosen as the head of this new administration on March 23, and this collaboration is an important part of the November 2022 peace agreement. The TPLF has also been removed from Ethiopia’s list of terrorist organizations, signaling an improvement in the relationship between both sides of the conflict and a hope for lasting peace.

Central Africa

Cameroon

Violence has continued with no signs of progress towards peace in the last month. Although there has been little news about Canada’s proposed peace agreement for Cameroon, the two countries have partnered for other purposes. They have begun an initiative in which Canada will support local business development in Cameroon, which could signal greater cooperation and a potential future plan for peace negotiations. Cameroon has also experienced significant political developments domestically. On March 12, President Paul Biya’s party won all Senate seats up for election. This sets the majority party up for continued rule, while minority parties, including anglophones, remain unrepresented in formal government.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been heating up for the past month despite efforts to end the ongoing violence between the government and other rebel forces. While the UN has called for rebel groups, including the M23 group, to honor a ceasefire agreement early in the month, acts of violence continue to surge, breaking the agreement. Islamist militant groups have committed multiple violent attacks, killing 40 people in one attack and 19 people in another, as well as destroying a medical facility. These events have prompted neighboring countries like Angola to send troops to quell the violence in the eastern part of the country. As a result, 300,000 people have had to leave their homes in the last month, joining a total of 800,000 who have been displaced since last year. The humanitarian crisis will likely not end until lasting peace can be ensured for the region. 

Southwest Asia 

Yemen

After years of continuous hostilities, hopes have been elevated that the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen might finally come to an end due to an unexpected deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran this month. Nevertheless, analysts caution that if Saudi Arabia were to decide to cease military activities, the conflict there would still be far from over and may potentially get more violent. The long-standing animosity between the Houthis and their rivals, as well as the conflicts and strains that rule the anti-Houthi camp, cannot be resolved by Iran and Saudi Arabia uniting.

Syria

As Syria continues to recover from the devastating earthquake that struck in February, the nation has become more and more vulnerable to internal conflict. Last month, the UN reported that the humanitarian crisis has been at the highest level since the start of the conflict. Since the defeat of ISIS in 2019, over 65,000 detainees have been held in northwestern Syria. As ISIS starts to regain power in Syria, they have also made moves to free their captured fighters, along with allied women and children. There have been calls from humanitarian organizations for the removal and rehabilitation of those detained in these camps.

Despite the lull in conflict for much of the month due to earthquake recovery, air strikes and bombings from all sides have recently begun to re-escalate last week. Israel carried out an airstrike on Aleppo International Airport, where much of the recent humanitarian aid has come in. Following a Syrian militia drone attack that killed a U.S. contractor and injured six other Americans, the US killed 19 in retaliatory air strikes. After that, the Iran-backed militias involved struck multiple US coalition bases in a further attack. The ongoing humanitarian crisis is only worsened by this violence and destruction.

Palestine

Last week, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich caused outrage by denying the existence of Palestine and Palestinians. Earlier this month, he also stated that a Palestinian village in the West Bank should be wiped out. This reflects a destructive colonial mentality that only serves to worsen the conflict.

The United Nations has also expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has reported that the occupation must end in order for the violence to end. The death toll has risen alongside escalating violence, and 2022 was the deadliest year in the past 17 years for Palestinians and in the past 6 years for Israelis. Over half a century of occupation, oppression, and human rights violations have deeply impacted the people of Palestine, creating lasting legacies of harm. Change is needed.

East and South Asia

Burma

The U.S. Treasury Department has recently imposed sanctions on Tun Min Latt and his wife, Win Min Soe and the companies they run under their names, Sia Sun Group, Asia Sun Trading Co Ltd, and Cargo Link Petroleum Logistics Co Ltd, along with three other firms involved in importing weapons and military equipment, such as drones and aircraft parts. This is important because the Burmese military has increasingly used airstrikes to attack villages and other countries have imposed sanctions on jet fuel suppliers. These actions align with the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union’s decision to impose more sanctions on Burmese companies that are giving direct aid to the Junta.

On Armed Forces Day, greeted by lavish parades and thousands of perfectly placed troops, General Min Aung Hlaing vowed to crush acts of terror by armed resistance groups. In the same speech, he continued to blame former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the democratic party for the alleged election fraud in November 2020. He promised an eventual return to democracy where he promised that the winning group would be able to peacefully rule, but his promises of democracy seem to be shallow as support from China and Russia sat side-by-side with the General as he gave his speech.

East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China)

As tensions rise between the United States and China as Xi Jinping enters his third term as China’s president, the issues surrounding East Turkistan still remain at the forefront of this contentious relationship between both countries.This month, the United States convened a committee in the House dealing with competition with China. This drew bipartisan support, although some fear it could escalate tensions with the ruling Chinese government. At a recent hearing, two Uyghur and Uzbek women, both oppressed minority groups in China, spoke of the horrors of being placed in internment camps that they described as being like a war zone. As the month of Ramadan has come, celebrated by Muslims around the world including the ethnic minorities that live in East Turkistan, President Biden has expressed his solidarity with the Uyghur population as they struggle with the oppression that the Chinese government has inflicted upon them. With this clear message from the US, it is imperative that change will come as a result of these hearings.

Kashmir

The UN has urged India to immediately stop its repression of Kashmiri activists. The government must be held accountable for the violation of human rights that they are responsible for upholding. This call comes from the arrest and ongoing detainment of prominent Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez and the manipulation of laws used by the government to detain the activists. He was charged with financing terrorism for his investigation into India’s human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir, an arrest that has been widely criticized by the international community.

North America

United States

This year, a record number of bills targeting transgender people and all members of the LGBTQ+ community have been introduced in numerous State governments. The ACLU is currently tracking 435 anti-LBGTQ bills in the United States, many of which revolve around removing access to gender affirming healthcare, censoring education, and banning trans people from playing on the sports team and using the bathroom that aligns with their gender. At the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), right-wing political commentator Michael Knowles called for the eradication of trans people. This is just one instance of the transphobic rhetoric that is becoming increasingly mainstream and is a warning sign of the early steps of genocide.

Gun violence also continues to run rampant in the United States. This month, 38 mass shootings have killed 57 people and injured another 133. Six people, including three children, were just killed this Monday on March 27. It is clear that change is needed to end this epidemic of gun violence. 

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

Allison Weiner is a sophomore at DePauw University majoring in Global Health, and minoring in Peace and Conflict Studies. She contributed to the Sudan portion of this update. 

Grace Harris is a sophomore at UCLA majoring in International Development Studies. She contributed to the Tigray, Palestine, and United States portions of this update.

Jerry Harris is a recent graduate of George Mason University with a BA in Psychology. He contributed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and East Turkistan portions of this update.

Mira Mehta is a sophomore at Brown University. She contributed to the Cameroon and South Sudan portions of this update.

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

 

March 2023 Lesson Plan: Yemen

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STAND’s Education team, with the help of the Yemen Action Committee, has put together a lesson plan that includes resources and activities designed to introduce students to key concepts relating to the Yemen priority area and the ongoing conflict and atrocities there. Since the Yemeni Civil War really escalated in March 2015, eight years ago, we thought this would be a timely theme for the month! STAND encourages advisors and chapter leaders to adapt the plans to your own context, and do what works best for their members.

Download the lesson plan here

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STAND Conflict Update: February 2023

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Northeast Africa

Sudan

This month, the need for humanitarian assistance for the people of Sudan has reached an all time high. The four risks that are the most significant at the moment for the Sudanese people are conflict, disease outbreak, an extremely poor economic state, and natural disasters. Additionally, many Sudanese people are experiencing a lack of access to water, along with food insecurities that are causing starvation and malnutrition. Humanitarian organizations plan to provide food, healthcare, and basic necessities, but there is still a lot of uncertainty, and the situation continues to deteriorate.

Likewise, a disease outbreak is sweeping the nation. Some people have contracted malaria while others have contracted dengue fever. While most people thought they had malaria due to the malaria-like symptoms, it turns out that they had actually contracted the dengue fever virus. One of the biggest factors contributing to the disease spike in the nation is the poor public health system, along with a lack of access to health care. 

South Sudan

On February 3, the Pope arrived in South Sudan and encouraged leaders and civilians to support meaningful peace. Ahead of his visit, President Salva Kiir announced that the government would resume participation in peace talks with holdout opposition groups. The announcement was cautiously welcomed by opposition leaders, but it is unclear what progress in the peace process has been made since then.

Some progress has been made in achieving transition goals, as the government continues to work on a new constitution. It was announced this month that a law allowing arrests without warrants would be removed, indicating room for compromise and more democratic governance. Leaders have also said that they plan to have elections next December, with a formal transition of power in early 2025. This could force more action towards comprehensive peace in the coming year.

Tigray, Ethiopia

On February 3, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and senior leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) met in person for the first time since the peace deal was signed to discuss progress in the restoration of communications, disarming of armed groups, withdrawal of Eritrean troops and access to humanitarian aid. However, many Tigrayans have reported that attacks on civilians, especially sexual assault, are still ongoing. One woman recounted how she was raped by a soldier on the same day of this meeting. Progress cannot be made if the people of Tigray are still suffering.

On this note, the Ethiopian government has called for an end to investigations into its human rights abuses during the war. The UN has ordered an inquiry into the massacres, rapes, and arbitrary detentions that took place in Ethiopia, but the government is opposed to this. Ethiopia has claimed that this is a politically motivated stunt to block funding, but these crimes have been widely documented. Ending the investigation would set a bad precedent and not hold Ethiopia accountable, but continuing it may result in diplomatic conflicts.

Central Africa

Cameroon

The Cameroonian government has refused to participate in peace talks proposed by Canada and conflict has continued to escalate, especially due to controversy over the upcoming Senate elections. Anglophone separatists vowed in January to disrupt this process and killed two election officials. Clashes have continued over the past month, with both sides claiming to have killed scores of opposing soldiers. The government has refused to release exact numbers of troops who have been killed, but touted their successes in detaining separatist soldiers who have surrendered. They plan to continue with elections as scheduled.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Despite the recent visit of the Pope last month, tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) still remain high as the government clashes with rebel forces. The government has also blamed rebel forces, especially the M23 group, for violence, including the death of an UN peacekeeper. However, many civilians have been expressing anti-UN sentiments since last year, claiming they were not being protected by these UN peacekeepers.

Conflict has continued, and eight civilians were killed in clashes after protestors blocked an UN convoy. In addition to this, Amnesty International has reported that the M23 group was involved in numerous killings and mass rapes on a large scale since Novemeber of last year. While things may be looking up as people in the DRC have registered to vote in this year’s election in December, it remains to be seen if any lasting change will happen in this ongoing crisis.     

Southwest Asia 

Yemen

During a national conference on Monday to contribute to humanitarian assistance funding for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, international donors donated roughly $1.2 billion. The amount is much less than the $4.3 billion goal established by the UN to avert the humanitarian disasters in Yemen. The United Nations, Sweden, and Switzerland jointly sponsored the national conference in the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Yemen needs the funds to cover food expenses and medical services as more than 21 million people are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.  The ongoing armed conflict has resulted in violence, displacement, and food shortages, but there is hope that peace will improve the conditions for Yemenis.

Syria

On February 6th, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck northern and western Syria, along with southern and central Turkey. Tens of thousands of people were killed and just as many people were injured as a result of the earthquake. Millions of Syrians have been left homeless and in need of humanitarian aid because of the earthquake. This is especially concerning because the humanitarian crisis in this region was already at the highest level since the start of conflict in Syria in 2011. Over 4 million people were already in need of aid before the earthquake occurred, and hundreds of thousands more will need help because of it.

On a more positive note, in the Netherlands, the first case trying the Syrian armed group Daesh for crimes against humanity has begun. Daesh has targeted Yazidi and Christian religious minorities with genocide, committing murder, enslavement, forced displacement, sexual violence, and other atrocities. Twelve women rescued from a prison camp have spoken out against the abuse they faced in these hearings. This is an important step for justice and accountability.

Palestine

Israeli and Palestinian officials held a summit in Jordan for the first time in a number of years in an effort to improve relations before the holy month of Ramadan, which many worry might serve as the ignition for a larger escalation. At this meeting, representatives from Israel and Palestine pledged to start working right away to stop additional conflict.

This comes at a time of conflict and high tensions. Late last month, the Israeli military killed nine Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in the deadliest raid in decades. There is hope for peace and reconciliation, but Israel’s plans to build more housing in and fully annex the West Bank negate that. The participants agreed to meet again in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt next month for additional discussion.

East and South Asia

Burma

February 1 marked the second anniversary of the military coup in Burma, and life in Burma has not changed much since then. Around 3,000 people have been killed, 17,000 detained, and 1.5 million displaced. The international response has been strong, with both the United States and the European Union (EU) imposing sanctions on the military government. The EU recently placed a sixth round of sanctions on Burma, targeting 9 high ranking officials and 7 companies. It placed restrictive measures on private companies involved in supplying fuel, weapons, and funding to the military and travel bans on certain individuals who have sentenced protesters to death, overseen air strikes, ordered massacres, and committed other atrocities. 

East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China)

A major data leak from Chinese police documents has been released, revealing mass systems of surveillance and enabling people to search for files on their missing family members. Tens of thousands of people were listed as detained, mainly between 2016-2018, and there are around 750,000 total people in the files. The Chinese government has not yet spoken on this, but previously claimed that similar reports were misinformation and propaganda. Through these documents, multiple Uyghurs who have fled the country have found that their family members were targeted because of them and arrested for arbitrary reasons such as taking a vacation in a so-called suspicious country and associating with political dissidents. 

Canada has also recently voted to take in 10,000 Uyghur refugees over the next two years, a strong show of support following their recognition of the genocide in 2021. While this is a non-binding measure, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet have stated that they intend to make this happen. 

Kashmir

The Rawalpindi Arts Council in Pakistan held a photography exhibit early this month highlighting Indian atrocities in Kashmir. At this event, speakers called for Kashmiri freedom and self-determination and declared that Pakistan stands with Kashmir. This was just one of many events, protests, and other demonstrations held on Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5. At the main state ceremony, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for India to end its occupation of Kashmir and honor previous agreements.

There was also diplomatic conflict between India and Pakistan at a recent United Nations assembly. Pakistan reiterated a call for India to end its occupation of Kashmir and brought up the recent death of a young Kashmiri boy after being tortured by Indian forces. India responded, declaring that Kashmir is an integral part of the nation and criticizing Pakistan for harboring hatred towards India. Tensions continue to rise between these two countries over Kashmir.

North America

United States

There have been multiple proposed bills in the United States Congress relating to genocide and atrocity issues. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Congressman Josh Gottheimer and three others introduced the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act. This House bill follows a startling rise in antisemitic incidents and Holocaust misinformation over recent years. The HEAL Act would direct the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to evaluate state-level Holocaust education and report its findings to Congress. Late last month, Senator Tammy Duckworth re-introduced the Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act. During the Second World War, the United States forcibly removed over 120,000 Japanese Americans and incarcerated them in camps. This Senate bill would clearly prohibit the incarceration of individuals based on their identity and rectify the loophole created by the Non-Detention Act of 1971, which does not specify this. 

In other news, Judge Susan Eagen sentenced the domestic terrorist who killed ten people and injured three at a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York, to life in prison without parole. The gunman was convicted of one act of domestic terrorism motivated by hate and ten counts of first-degree murder after he targeted a supermarket within a predominantly Black neighborhood last year. 

Additionally, this month marks one year since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Vice President Kamala Harris declared at the Munich Security Conference that Russia is committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine. The United States Department of State released a press statement reporting summary executions, mass rape, and child deportations. Furthermore, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution imploring Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.

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

Allison Weiner is a sophomore at DePauw University majoring in Global Health, and minoring in Peace and Conflict Studies. She contributed to the Sudan portion of this update. 

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

Grace Harris is a sophomore at UCLA majoring in International Development Studies. She contributed to the Tigray and East Turkistan portions of this update.

Jerry Harris is a recent graduate of George Mason University with a BA in Psychology. He contributed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo portion of this update.

Mira Mehta is a sophomore at Brown University. She contributed to the Cameroon and South Sudan portions of this update.

Seng Hkawn Myitung is a sophomore at Albemarle High School. She contributed to the Burma, Kashmir, and Syria portions of this update.

February 2023 Lesson Plan: Burma

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STAND’s Education team, with the help of the Burma Action Committee, has put together a lesson plan that includes resources and activities designed to introduce students to key concepts relating to Burma, one of STAND’s priority areas, and the atrocities committed there. Since February 1, 2023 was the second anniversary of the military coup, we decided to release these materials to chapters this month. STAND encourages advisors and chapter leaders to adapt the plans to your own context (high school vs. college, member knowledge base, meeting time limit, etc.)!

Download the lesson plan here

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