In Sudan, it has been a month since the eruption of violent fighting, plunging the capital city of Khartoum and its estimated five million residents into a state of distress. The consequences of the conflict are severe, with shortages of food and basic supplies exacerbating an already dire situation, while runaway inflation adds to the hardships faced by the population.
Even as Monday morning dawned, the sounds of explosions reverberated across the capital, accompanied by thick billows of smoke rising into the sky. The sight of warplanes drawing anti-aircraft fire painted a bleak picture of the ongoing hostilities. Amidst the chaos, many have been left with no choice but to flee their homes, seeking safety from the conflict. In Port Sudan, a displaced man waits for evacuation, lamenting the plight of those affected.
“We are Sudanese, we come from Khartoum. We are suffering a lot. We are here for about 11 days without food, without water, even without basic needs, there is nothing. Even if you want to go to the toilet you find it is closed,” he expresses with deep frustration.
The fighting, which erupted on April 15, originated between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As the conflict intensifies, control over the country seems to be slipping into the hands of the Rapid Support Forces, leading to a state of complete chaos and devastation. Displaced individuals like Hamden Mohammed, from Haj Yousif in the East Nile province, find themselves stranded on the streets, under the scorching sun, as they plead for assistance. Families witness their plight, yet aid remains elusive.
“The situation is very difficult. The war is tough and the Rapid Support Forces are taking control of the country, it’s completely messed up. We came here because we want to be evacuated. We’re left on the street, in the sun, and families have been seeing us and no one is helping. We’re sitting near the grand hotel in Port Sudan. We want the organizations to evacuate us from Sudan because the country is totally devastated. There’s no food, no work… nothing,” he expresses with a heavy heart.
Tragically, medics report that approximately 1,000 lives have been lost during the fighting, primarily in and around Khartoum, as well as in the ravaged West Darfur state. The human toll is devastating, and the repercussions extend far beyond the immediate conflict zone.
Sudanese Finance Minister, Gibril Ibrahim, highlights the urgent need for action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis. He reveals that a meeting was recently held with the United Nations and other relevant institutions to discuss the situation, focusing on the plight of both foreign and Sudanese individuals who have been displaced. In addition, they emphasized the importance of supporting the upcoming agricultural season to mitigate potential food shortages in the future.
The conflict in Sudan has only deepened the already dire humanitarian crisis faced by the country. Prior to the outbreak of violence, one in three people in Sudan relied on humanitarian assistance for their survival. Now, with the conflict raging on, the need for aid and support has become even more critical. Urgent intervention and concerted efforts are required to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and work towards a sustainable solution that brings peace and stability to the nation.
