Betrayed and Abandoned: The Starvation and Persecution of Ex-Tigrayan UN Peacekeepers in Sudan

In the vast and unforgiving deserts of eastern Sudan, in a place that few in the world have ever heard of, a humanitarian catastrophe is reportedly unfolding. In the refugee camp of Umm Gurgur, former Tigrayan United Nations peacekeepers, men and women who once stood as protectors of global security, are now on the brink of death—starving, sick, and abandoned. These individuals, who once donned the helmets of the United Nations and served in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, now find themselves forgotten, deprived of food, medical care, and even the most basic human dignity.

For over three years, they have been trapped in a limbo of suffering, caught between the Sudanese government, which refuses to recognize their plight, the Ethiopian government, which has criminalized them,and the international community, which has turned its backon them. Their situation is growing worse by the day, and as hunger tightens its grip on their bodies, the only certainty they face is the slow and agonizing prospect of death.

A message relayed from a source within Umm Gurgur on March 21, 2025, describes the unbearable suffering they are enduring. The words carry the weight of hopelessness, their pain intensified by the realization that no one is coming to save them.

“We have cried out, but no one listens. The food shipment has been delayed for months. We are wandering the desert in search of food.”

The crisis these former peacekeepers are facing is not an accident of war, nor an unavoidable consequence of displacement. It is adeliberate act of abandonment, an unfolding tragedy in which starvation is being used as a weapon and silence is being used as a shield to conceal their suffering. If immediate action is not taken, they will not simply die—they will be erased, forgotten by the world they once served.

From Defenders of Peace to Starving Refugees

The relayed message from Umm Gurgur describes a group of people who were once regarded with respect and authority, now reduced to shadows of their former selves. These are not ordinary refugees. They are former UN peacekeepers, highly trained individuals who once played an essential role in maintaining global stability. But today, those same individuals who once risked their lives for others find themselves abandoned by the very world they fought to protect.

More than three years ago, when the genocidal war in Tigray erupted, they had two choices: return to Ethiopia, where they feared persecution, or flee in search of safety. They chose to cross into Sudan, believing that as former UN personnel, international law would protect them. At that time, their numbers stood at 650. They were given temporary refuge in Umm Gurgur, a camp near Gedarif, Sudan, where they lived in basic conditions but at least had access to food.

But as the war in Sudan intensified and the attention of humanitarian organizations shifted elsewhere, their suffering became invisible. Slowly, their access to aid and food diminished. Their numbers began to dwindle. Some left the camp in search of food, wandering into the desert, never to be seen again. Others simply succumbed to the effects of starvation and disease, their bodies unable to endure the relentless deprivation.

Today, only 150 remain, and they are growing weaker with each passing day. Their last source of survival, a bi-monthly $100 food stipend, was abruptly cut off in February 2025. That small sum had already been barely enough to keep them alive, but it was something. Now, they have been left with absolutely nothing.

“The monthly budget is only US$50, and they have been denied it for over a month. We have nothing left.”

With no money, no humanitarian assistance, and no way to access food, they are now trapped in a situation where death is the only certainty. Some have tried to scavenge for anything edible, walking for miles into the desert under the brutal sun, but there is nothing. Others have grown so weak that they can no longer even stand, their bodies wasting away as malnutrition takes its toll.

The Right to Protest: A Death Sentence

Despite their unbearable suffering, the former peacekeepers did not accept their fate without a fight. They attempted to raise awareness about their plight, hoping that the world would take notice. They asked Sudanese authorities for permission to hold a peaceful demonstration, believing that if their suffering became known, action would be taken to save them.

But instead of help, they were met with threats and repression. A Sudanese government representative reportedly told them:

“It is absolutely impossible. We are at war, and demonstrations are banned.”

It was not just a refusal. It was a warning. If they spoke out, if they tried to tell the world about their suffering, Sudanese authorities would deport them back to Ethiopia. The former peacekeepers knew exactly what that meant. If they were forced to return to Ethiopia, they would face persecution, imprisonment, or even execution.

Ethiopia has already labeled them as criminals, placing their names on a blacklist and blocking their access to their own lifetime earnings and UN peacekeeping salaries. They have been denied the ability to seek asylum in third countries, as Ethiopia has insisted that no nation will accept former soldiers. At the same time, Ethiopian officials have told them that if they leave the camp, they will be transferred to a third country immediately—a contradiction that exposes the manipulation and deception they are being subjected to.

The former peacekeepers are trapped in an impossible situation. If they stay silent, they will starve to death. If they speak out, they will be deported to their persecutors. They are stateless, voiceless, and without options, abandoned by the world that once called upon them to serve.

A Growing Medical Emergency

The relayed message from Umm Gurgur also describes a rapidly deteriorating health crisis. Many of the remaining peacekeepers are suffering from serious medical conditions, and without access to healthcare, their conditions are worsening at an alarming rate.

Respiratory diseases have become widespread, with many suffering from asthma but unable to access inhalers or treatment. Others have spinal cord injuries, leaving them immobilized and vulnerable. Some are losing their vision due to untreated eye diseases, their sight fading along with their hope.

Among them are individuals who require blood transfusions, but with no medical services available, they have no way to receive treatment. Malnutrition has made them highly susceptible to infections, illnesses that would be survivable under normal circumstances but are now turning deadly.

The Sudanese government, which is legally obligated to provide refugees with basic medical care, has failed to meet even the most minimal humanitarian standards. These individuals are not just being denied food. They are being denied the right to health, to treatment, to survival.

The Urgent Need for Action

The message relayed from Umm Gurgur is not just a description of suffering. It is a desperate plea for survival. These former peacekeepers are not asking for luxury. They are not demanding special treatment. They are simply asking for food, medical care, and protection from persecution—the most basic human rights that every person is entitled to under international law.

The world cannot continue to ignore this crisis. The United Nations, the African Union, and humanitarian organizations must act now. Food aid, medical assistance, and diplomatic intervention are needed immediately. Sudan must be pressured to stop suppressing their voices, and Ethiopia must be held accountable for its economic persecution.

If the world does nothing, these former peacekeepers will not die from war, but from starvation and silence. Their fate is in the hands of the international community. Ifnothing is done, history will judge this moment not just as a failure—but as a crime against humanity itself.