The United Nations warned on Monday that Sudan’s turmoil might drive 800,000 people to abandon the nation, as clashes between opposing military groups raged in the capital despite an ostensible truce.
Hundreds of people have been murdered and dozens have been injured in 16 days of fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted on April 15.
The crisis has wreaked havoc on Khartoum, threatening to pull in regional powers, and sparked war in the Darfur area.
Many people are afraid for their lives as a result of the power struggle between the army commander and the head of the RSF, who shared control of the government following a coup in 2021 but disagreed on a planned transition to civilian authority.
On Sunday, all sides agreed to prolong a much-violated truce by 72 hours, and the United Nations informed reporters that warring troops may undertake ceasefire negotiations in Saudi Arabia. However, air strikes and artillery fire were heard on Monday, as smoke hung over Khartoum and neighbouring cities.
Raouf Mazou, a UN official, said the organization’s refugee agency was preparing for an outflow of 815,000 people, including 580,000 Sudanese and international refugees already in the country. The population of the nation is 46 million people.
According to him, 73,000 people have already fled Sudan.
Egypt said that 40,000 Sudanese had crossed the border, and those that did acknowledged the trek was difficult. Others have gone to Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia in evacuation boats, or travelled over the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.
According to the health ministry, at least 528 people have been killed and 4,599 have been injured. The UN has recorded a comparable number of deaths, but feels the true toll is significantly higher.
Hardship, Danger
Foreign nations evacuated their nationals in air, sea, and land operations during the last week, while some countries abandoned their efforts. The US administration claimed on Monday that during the weekend, its convoys from Khartoum to the Red Sea port of Port Sudan rescued more than 700 individuals.
After evacuating almost 2,200 people, Britain said it was looking at methods to give humanitarian relief to Sudan with its international partners, the UN, and aid agencies.
Meanwhile, Sudanese who remained faced hardship and danger.
“I show up for two or three hours, then I close up because it’s not safe,” said Abdelbagi, a Khartoum barber who claimed he had to keep working since prices were increasing.
The makeover astounded many who walked out into the streets on Monday.
“We came across dead bodies.” The industrial area has been completely robbed. “We saw people carrying TVs and large sacks stolen from factories,” claimed homeowner Mohamed Ezzeldin.
Power and water supplies are unclear, there is little food or gasoline, most hospitals and clinics are closed, and rising transportation expenses make it more difficult to flee.
The UN and other humanitarian agencies have reduced services, while the World Food Programme said on Monday that it will resume operations in more safe locations after personnel were murdered early in the fighting.
“The scale and speed of what is unfolding in Sudan is unprecedented,” said Martin Griffiths, a top United Nations official in charge of humanitarian and emergency assistance who will go to Sudan on Tuesday.
Violations Of The Ceasefire
Victoria, a tea vendor who used to line Khartoum’s streets before the war started, said her children are baffled by what is going on.
“So I put my life on the line to try to work, and if God helps me, I’ll get them some food; if he doesn’t, I’ll keep trying.” “However, sitting helpless and scared doesn’t help,” she said.
Because there is so little food available, Jamila, a woman still living in Khartoum with her family, only eats one meal per day. RSF soldiers have stationed themselves in front of their home and refuse to leave. “The sound of fighting is in our ears all day,” she said.
Both parties said on Monday that they were making progress without immediately commenting on the ceasefire infractions.
The army claimed to have reduced RSF’s fighting effectiveness in half and prevented it from reinforcing its positions in the city. The RSF claimed to still hold key areas of Khartoum and to be repelling army troops.
