Three years of war in Sudan

Sudan marks three years of civil war, with journalist Mohammed Suleyman recounting the siege of Al Fasher, a communications blackout, and the humanitarian catastrophe that followed, including mass starvation, indiscriminate violence, and the collapse of basic human infrastructure. He describes a world cut off from international law or aid, where civilians were forced to abandon the dead and dying due to total resource collapse. Small talk, meanwhile, is shown to have measurable mental health benefits, increasing mood, novelty, and social connection, even among strangers.

Hear a firsthand account of the hidden human toll in Sudan’s forgotten war and new psychological evidence on how simple social interactions can improve well-being.

1. 01The siege of Al Fasher in Sudan led to a complete communications blackout, leaving trapped civilians like journalist Mohammed Suleyman unable to call for help, warn of drone attacks, or confirm their survival to the outside world.
2. 02After three years of war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the country faces de facto partition and the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with widespread death from hunger, thirst, and violence going largely undocumented.
3. 03Research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that small talk with strangers improves mood, exposes people to new perspectives, and fulfills a fundamental need for social recognition and connection.