Humanitarian Crisis Escalates in Khartoum Amidst Ongoing Conflict
The article highlights the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Khartoum due to prolonged conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The ongoing violence has led to significant casualties, mass displacement, and famine conditions affecting over 100,000 individuals. Community kitchens are struggling to provide food under dire circumstances, while the infrastructure is in ruins, necessitating urgent international intervention.
In the war-torn capital of Sudan, Khartoum, the stench of death permeates the air as Red Crescent volunteers recover bodies from a sewage pit. Hisham Zein al-Abdeen, head of forensic medicine at Sudan’s health ministry, reported that many of these victims were either shot in the head or suffered significant trauma before being discarded. This gruesome scene reflects the tragic outcome of nearly two years of conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has devastated vast portions of the city.
The ongoing conflict, rooted in a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has led to over 12 million individuals being uprooted and caused tens of thousands of deaths. The United Nations noted that the once-vibrant metropolis has seen more than 3.5 million people flee since combat began, while many others endure life among abandoned buildings and potentially unmarked graves throughout Khartoum.
Although the RSF initially controlled many streets, recent military operations have allowed the army to regain territories, including the eastern districts of Bahri and East Nile. Presently, intense fighting continues less than a kilometer from significant government installations like the presidential palace. Despite these setbacks, Daglo remains resolute, proclaiming, “We will not leave the Republican Palace.”
An AFP team documented the chilling effects of the war, traveling through abandoned neighborhoods where the remnants of daily life lie dormant. Residents living in the areas report harrowing experiences, such as witnessing bodies being disposed of unceremoniously. The psychological toll on the remaining civilians is evident; many display signs of acute trauma from the relentless violence.
Surviving residents face widespread difficulty in securing basic necessities, as there is little access to electricity, and food and clean water are scarce. Community kitchens, operated by local women, strive to provide food but face hurdles including limited supplies and threats from RSF forces during their operations. The United Nations has raised alarms about the dire humanitarian situation; famine conditions have been officially declared in three displacement camps.
The conflict, originating from a struggle for power, has escalated into a humanitarian catastrophe, resulting in mass displacement and hunger crises that have overwhelmed Sudan’s fragile infrastructure. Reports indicate that around 100,000 individuals in Khartoum are currently experiencing famine-like conditions, highlighting the urgent need for international assistance to avert total collapse.
The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces has led to devastating humanitarian consequences in Khartoum. The reported recovery of bodies and the pervasive conditions of starvation illuminate the urgent crisis faced by civilians. With over 12 million displaced and widespread famine declared, international support is critical to address the sufferings of the population and to restore stability in the region.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
