Yacoub El Hillo on Sudan's War, Refugee Crises, and a Life of Service

The Devastation of War in Sudan

• 💔 Sudan is experiencing a war unlike any other Yacoub El Hillo has witnessed in his 36 years with the UN, characterized by its speed, scale, and senselessness.
• 🌍 The conflict has forcibly displaced 14 million people, with 2 million becoming refugees in neighboring countries and beyond, turning Sudan into a theater for external agendas.
• 💥 The assumption is that everything is gone in Khartoum and Omdurman, with indiscriminate and disproportionate destruction of life and infrastructure.

Personal Impact and Family's Flight

• ✈️ El Hillo's own family, including his children and grandchildren, had to flee Khartoum under heavy shelling and sniper fire, a journey that took nearly 50 hours for a normally 12-hour trip.
• 🏠 His family's ancestral farmlands, once a source of support and sanctuary, are now refugee settlements, with many displaced individuals unable to access their depleted savings due to the banking sector's disruption.
• 📝 El Hillo's daughter, Razan, started a blog called "The Voices of the Homeland" to capture stories, create a platform for interaction, and sell Sudanese artistic products to generate aid funds.

A Career Dedicated to Humanity

• 🌟 Inspired by his international law professor, Yacoub El Hillo has dedicated over 35 years to the UN, working in 16 duty stations, often in conflict zones.
• 🌍 His early career with UNHCR involved resettling refugees and making life-or-death decisions at a young age, which he describes as the best training ground in the UN system.
• 💡 El Hillo reflects on his time in Liberia, witnessing unimaginable brutality but also seeing the country's transformation towards democracy and civil society.
• 🇸🇾 In Syria, he experienced the darkest moments of the conflict, where siege was used as a tactic of war, leading to starvation and destruction, but his teams managed to deliver humanitarian aid and assist those fleeing.

Hope and Resilience

• 🕊️ El Hillo's hope for Sudan stems from the belief that all wars end, the resilience of the Sudanese people, and the potential for drying up external support for the conflict.
• 🇸🇩 He believes Sudan has everything to become a great nation again, starting with its people, who are inherently peaceloving, warm, and welcoming despite the hardships.
• 🤝 The greatest humanitarian operation in Sudan is currently run by Sudanese themselves, demonstrating generosity and hospitality even amidst the war.

Personal Reflections and Sacrifice

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 El Hillo acknowledges being an absent father due to his demanding career but is proud of his five children and their diverse paths, cherishing the improved relationships and new granddaughter.
• 🙏 He has no regrets about his life choices, viewing his work as a noble mission that justified prolonged absences, except for the missed opportunities with his children.
• 🇾🇪 He fondly recalls past adventures, like their time in Yemen, hinting at more stories from his rich career serving humanity.