Animals and Plants
Few animals and plants in the north
In the north of Sudan there are few plants and hardly any animals. Only animals that can cope with the dry land and can adapt their eating habits have a chance of survival here.
The north is desert or semi-desert land. Thorn bushes grow in the Sahel zone, which adjoins it in a southerly direction, and grass and acacias grow even further south in the savannahs. Sometimes baobabs can be seen here and there.
Reptiles have a good chance of survival
Snakes and lizards have good chances of survival here. Not only the Egyptian cobra and the Egyptian sand rattle otter live in Sudan, but also various poisonous viper species such as the horned viper or the Nubian spitting cobra. The red spitting cobra has also been sighted.
All of these snake species are poisonous, while the rock python and the king python are non-poisonous snake species.
The south of Sudan is more fertile
More animals and plants can survive in the humid savannas of the south. In the southern regions live zebras, but also lions, hyenas and leopards. Giraffes, elephants and buffalo can also be seen in these regions and are protected in national parks. Crocodiles and hippos frolic on the banks of the river. Various bird species also have a home here.
Economy
One of the poorer countries in the world
Sudan is one of the poorer countries in the world and at the same time it is also highly indebted. In various regions such as the west, east and south, many people do not get enough to eat. There is a lot of poverty. The many wars in particular caused this situation.
A large part of the population in Sudan lives from agriculture. This includes above all cattle breeding with goats and sheep, but also with cattle. Agriculture only works where there is water, and most parts of Sudan are very dry. Cotton and sugar cane, for example, are grown on the banks of the Nile. Both products are also suitable for export. Millet can also be grown in the south of the country. Other agricultural products of Sudan are peanuts, sesame seeds and wheat.
Sudan is also known for the production of gum arabic, a product that is used, for example, as a food additive. Here it serves as a thickener, but also for stabilization. The most important branch of the economy is the export of oil. There are also gold, iron and uranium deposits.
Children and School
Many children in Sudan do not go to school
In the period shortly after independence, Sudan tried very hard to educate its citizens, and schools and educational institutions began to be expanded. But when the many armed conflicts and with them the economic situation in the country deteriorated, the situation in the education system also deteriorated. To get more information on Sudan and Africa, check calculatorinc.
There is no reliable information about the number of children going to school. Less than 30 out of 100 children probably attend primary school. At least that’s what the UN means. The Ministry of Education in Sudan speaks of 54 children out of 100. These are very different numbers, but both are low.
There are probably even greater differences between urban and rural children in Sudan than is usual in Africa. It is assumed that in the capital Khartoum, for example, 78 out of 100 children attend primary school, while in the province of Darfur only 26 out of 100 do. In any case, in some regions there are very many children who cannot read and write. This is often due to the very long way the children walk to school.
The disadvantages for girls are often even greater than those for boys. They have to help with the household and since school trips are often very long, especially in rural areas, girls aged twelve and over are no longer allowed to go to school unaccompanied. Unfortunately, this means that school is often canceled for them from this age. A rethinking is taking place very slowly, but it will still be a while before children, and especially girls, have more educational opportunities.
Children in Sudan
In the following photos you can see how children in Sudan live, what they like to play and that despite all hardship they can be happy.
Eating in Sudan
What is the name of the national dish in Sudan?
If one can speak of a national dish in Sudan, it is Ful. This food is also available in Egypt. The Egyptian cuisine has an influence on the Sudanese, after all, Sudan is on the border with Egypt. Here it doesn’t matter whether you live in the north, which is more Arabian or in the black African south, people eat Ful everywhere.
But what is that anyway? Ful are broad beans. They are cooked to a pulp, which can also end up looking quite mushy. This is served with flatbread called Kisra and baked very thinly. This is how you dunk the porridge.
For the taste of the beans, onions, tomatoes or chickpea puree (falafel), a dash of lemon or cheese are also added to the beans. In Sudan people like to cook with peanut or sesame oil. Both oils can be heated up strongly without losing the aroma.
Eating with your hands
Ful is mostly eaten with the hands. That is very typical for Africa. They also eat together from a bowl. However, only the right hand should be used, because the left hand is considered unclean. Quite practical, then in the end there is not so much dishes to wash.
What else is there?
Furthermore, a dish called dura is eaten in Sudan. This is corn or millet that you boil and then serve with vegetables. Eggplants are also popular, and these are often combined with peanut sauce.
Lamb and goat
Most of the people in Sudan are Muslim and they don’t eat pork, so there are almost no dishes made with pork. But there are all the more goats or sheep. Lamb is most commonly eaten in Sudan. Those who live on the Nile can also get fresh fish, the Nile perch is popular here.
