Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, experienced a communications blackout for several hours on Friday, as the army and paramilitary forces engaged in intense battles across the city. This comes as humanitarian groups warn of worsening crises in the war-torn country.
Violent clashes erupted in Khartoum, with witnesses reporting a disruption of vital internet and mobile phone connections. The source of the malfunction remains unclear, but mobile and internet networks were restored later in the day. Throughout the day, columns of black smoke were seen rising near army headquarters in the center of Khartoum and in the city’s south. Witnesses also reported clashes using various weapons in Khartoum North and fighter jets and drones flying overhead in Omdurman, just across the Nile river.
The fighting between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 people across Sudan. The worst fighting has taken place in Khartoum and the western Darfur region. The United Nations reports that more than 1.7 million Khartoum residents have been forced to flee continuous airstrikes, tanks, and fighters on the streets, as well as rampant looting.
The internet has played a crucial role for those who have fled and the millions who remain in sourcing basic needs. Many have set up crowd-sourcing initiatives for escape routes, food, and medicine. However, more than 2.4 million people have been displaced within the country, leading to shortages even in safe areas. Between two-thirds and 80 percent of hospitals are not functioning, according to Rick Brennan of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Sudan’s already overstretched healthcare system is facing enormous challenges in the current crisis, putting the people of Sudan in a life-or-death situation. The WHO warns that outbreaks of water-borne diseases could occur in several remote areas due to heavy rains during the rainy season, which began in June. Aid groups have repeatedly pleaded for humanitarian corridors to allow aid and personnel through.
A meeting of health workers and aid groups revealed measles outbreaks in 11 of Sudan’s 18 states, as well as cases of cholera/acute watery diarrhea. However, the absence of a functioning public health laboratory makes it difficult to confirm reports of a likely cholera outbreak. Sudan’s neighbors, where 740,000 people have fled, fear the conflict’s regional spillover.
In South Sudan, the closure of the northern border has left many markets empty and jeopardized an already fragile humanitarian situation. More than 160,000 returnees and refugees from Sudan have poured into South Sudan since the war began. A summit of leaders from Sudan’s neighbors was held in Cairo to discuss the conflict, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi urging international donors to honor their commitments. Only $1.5 billion in aid has been pledged at a Geneva conference in June, less than half of the estimated needs for Sudan and its affected neighbors.
Multiple diplomatic efforts have been made to mediate an end to the violence, but successive cease-fires brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia have all been violated. The International Criminal Court has now commenced investigations into alleged war crimes, following increased reports of atrocities, particularly in Darfur, including sexual violence and targeting civilians based on their ethnicity.
The situation in Sudan remains dire, with ongoing battles, displacement, and a lack of access to essential services. The international community must step up its efforts to provide humanitarian aid and support mediation efforts to bring an end to the violence and suffering in Sudan.