A ceasefire that isn’t: renewed heavy fighting in Sudan

Heavy fighting broke out again on Monday between government forces and paramilitary units in Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman, according to media and eyewitness accounts. Airstrikes and shots were reported, including near the presidential palace.

On Sunday, both sides initially had a ceasefire, which expired in the evening, extended by 72 hours. However, since the beginning of the conflict, no real ceasefire has been observed by either side.

In the Northeast African country of about 46 million inhabitants, the armed forces led by de facto president Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have been fighting since April 15 against the militias of his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the RSF. The two generals once took over the leadership of Sudan through joint military coups. However, there was a rift between the two camps over issues of power distribution.

Several aid organizations announced this weekend that they would be sending humanitarian aid to Sudan. These are urgently needed. Since fighting broke out between the army and militias in the country, numerous warehouses of humanitarian supplies have been looted. Supplies were running low, UN emergency coordinator Martin Griffiths said on Sunday.

According to a UN spokesman, five World Health Organization (WHO) containers are in the port of Sudan. However, according to Griffiths, the helpers are waiting for the charges to be released by local authorities. After the mass looting, most of the WHO’s supplies had run out, Griffiths said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also flew about eight tons of medical supplies from Jordan to Port Sudan. Among other things, anesthetics, bandages and surgical material were supplied. Thousands of people with gunshot wounds could be treated with this, according to the ICRC.

Another machine with relief supplies should follow. Health workers in Sudan have “done the impossible: cared for the wounded without water, electricity and basic medical supplies,” said ICRC Africa director Patrick Youssef.

The UN World Food Program (WFP) also announced that it would resume its emergency aid programs as soon as possible. Shortly after the outbreak of violence in Sudan some two weeks ago, the WFP ceased operations after several employees were killed in the fighting. Food distribution is expected to begin in some Sudanese states in the coming days, the WFP said in a statement Monday.

Even before the conflict, more than 15 million people in Sudan were seriously food insecure. These numbers are expected to increase significantly as a result of the fighting.

Many hospitals are no longer functioning as a result of the fighting, according to the Sudanese medical commission. In addition, there is a lack of medicines, medical supplies and blood supplies. Authorities say the fighting has already killed more than 500 people and injured nearly 5,000. However, the actual number is probably considerably higher. (sda/dpa)