Daily News Lesson

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Sept. 11, 2024, 5:04 p.m.

Sudanese teachers and shopkeepers join the fight against rebels in nation's civil war

Note to teachers: This segment contains content that your students may find disturbing. Please review the video before sharing with your class.

SUMMARY

International aid groups issued a joint declaration that the hunger crisis in Sudan is of historic proportions. For nearly 18 months, the country has been embroiled in a civil war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. With support from the Pulitzer Center, special correspondent Leila Molana Allen spoke with some of the men fighting the war and looked into the powers funding it.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

  1. What crisis in Sudan has reached historic proportions, according to international aid groups?
  2. Where is Sudan?
  3. Who are some of the people profiled as in this story?
  4. Why is fighting taking place in Sudan?
  5. How does the RSF recruit soldiers, and who is it recruiting?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

After watching this story, do you think foreign arms sales are driving some of the fighting in Sudan? If so, what could the U.S. do to reduce foreign arms entering Sudan? If not, what could the international community do to help end the war?

Media literacy: Had you heard about the war in Sudan before this story? If not, why do you think it isn't more prominent in the media despite the size of the crisis facing the Sudanese people?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do: Watch the two videos below to learn more about efforts of the U.S. and others to address the crisis in Sudan. Then discuss — what else do you think would help the people of the African country and bring stability to the region?

On efforts to aid the millions displaced by war:

On peace talks:


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