Violence reached a new level in Sudan on Thursday, with destruction and looting in Darfur and intense bombardment of Khartoum on the 13th day of conflict between the army and paramilitary forces that has already left hundreds dead.
Clashes and French evacuation… What we know about the situation in Sudan
A few hours before the end of Thursday midnight (11pm Paris time) of a three-day ceasefire that was hardly respected, the army and the Rapid Support Forces (FSR) announced that they had ratified a 72-hour extension of the truce. “After the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States”.
sequel after announcement
In a joint statement issued in Washington, the members of the “Quartet” on Sudan (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United Kingdom and the United States), as well as the African Union and the United Nations, ruled ” Welcome “ This extension of the cease-fire called for “full implementation” And “Unhindered humanitarian access”.
This “ceasefire”, which began on Tuesday, allowed the evacuation of thousands of foreigners and Sudanese, but did not prevent Khartoum from the constant bombardment by planes and heavy artillery. Previously, multiple attempts to reach a truce between the two sides, which have been at odds since April 15, have been unsuccessful.
Civilians removed from power in 2021
Since April 15, battles between the army of Major General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the terrifying paramilitary forces of General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti”, have left more than 500 dead and thousands wounded, according to the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. health.
The two leaders dampened hopes for a democratic transition, as the two generals removed civilians from power together in a coup in 2021, before entering conflict, and failing to agree on integrating paramilitary forces into the army.
sequel after announcement
In Darfur, a remote and currently inaccessible region, violence is escalating, particularly in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur. Little information is filtered from this border region of Chad and the scene in the first decade of the twenty-first century for a particularly bloody war. But pro-democracy doctors have already announced the death of one of their colleagues in the violence.
worsening of the humanitarian situation
The UN has been reporting for several days Attacks on civilians, looting and burning of homes.While that “weapons are distributed” for civilians. These clashes make life more dangerous for the residents of the region, which is one of the poorest regions in the country with 50,000 children. “severely malnourished” They have been denied food aid since the United Nations suspended its activities after the killing of five aid workers.
“Violence, interruption of the work of many hospitals and clinics, limited access to drinking water, food shortages and forced displacement of the population” form “The biggest health risk in Sudan”The World Health Organization (WHO) warns.
From Burma to Sudan, great gains for the putschists
The fighting has caused mass displacement in this country of 45 million people, one of the world’s poorest. Tens of thousands of people have reached the border countries: Chad to the west, Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan and Central African Republic to the south, and Egypt to the north.
sequel after announcement
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called on neighboring countries and the international community to help those fleeing the fighting, urging the warring parties to do so. “Agree immediately to a permanent ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Sudanese in need.”.
“very worried”
In recent days, several countries have organized evacuations by sea or air. More than 200 Iraqis landed in Baghdad on Thursday, evacuees on two planes sent by the Iraqi government.
A new Saudi ship arrived this evening in the western coastal city of Jeddah, bringing the number of evacuees from Riyadh to 2,744. Canada announced that it had evacuated 118 citizens from Canada and other countries.
Those left behind in Sudan’s combat zones have to deal with shortages of food, water and electricity, as well as cut internet and phone lines. Abu Deng, Acting United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan ‘Very worried about the food supply’calling “collective work”.
Fourteen hospitals were bombed, according to the Doctors Syndicate, and another 19 were forcibly evacuated due to gunfire, lack of equipment and personnel, or because fighters were staying there.
