The scale of the suffering is staggering. According to a former US envoy, over 400,000 people have died. More than 15mn have been displaced. Tens of thousands of Sudanese have been massacred, there is widespread sexual violence and a man-made famine has sent millions into starvation. The UN revealed findings of genocide last week. Something must be done to make global leaders take notice. Cutting the flow of gum arabic could do just that.