Numerous individuals are evacuating their residences in Wad Madani, the second largest city in Sudan. This is where the majority of those who were displaced from the capital city of Khartoum sought shelter at the start of the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April.
On Friday, the conflict spread to Wad Madani, the capital of el-Gezira state in central Sudan, which is known for having Africa’s largest agricultural project. There have been reports of people traveling by bus or on foot towards the south.
Armed groups and citizens in Madani have been reported to be looting and damaging banks and main markets. Along with this, the cost of transportation and fuel has also increased.
According to Dr. Mohamed Babikir, a doctor in Madani, citizens are taking refuge in their homes due to the fierce battles on the streets. He stated that many people have fled, leaving those who stayed behind trapped in their houses. There have been sightings of heavy weaponry and fighter planes in the city.
The military has shut down a bridge that links the towns of Al Hasahesa and Rufaa, located north of Madani.
Last weekend in Djibouti, the two opposing sides agreed to a ceasefire with the help of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a political organization in East Africa. However, on Thursday, the military bombed the city of Neyala in South Darfur state, resulting in numerous casualties, including civilians. Neyala is currently under the control of the RSF following months of intense fighting. The RSF has also taken control of three other significant states, leaving the army in control of only North Darfur.
Many relief groups have halted their operations in Madani, which had become a center for humanitarian efforts since the start of the war in Khartoum, due to recent events.
The country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council, William Carter, stated that work in Wad Madani has been suspended due to ongoing conflict. They plan to resume their work as soon as possible.
Thousands of individuals have been displaced and this number is expected to increase as the conflict persists. Our emergency response teams have been sent to locations where people are seeking refuge, including Sennar and Gedaref states.
“The current situation is incredibly unfortunate. Countless individuals who sought refuge from urban conflicts and airstrikes in Khartoum are now experiencing a repeat of these circumstances in a location they believed to be secure.”
Fighting has recommenced in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, between the two opposing sides. This is the only city still being controlled by the army. The conflict has also reached the Abo-Shook camp, where six individuals, including children, were injured on Saturday.
A person living in Fasher informed the Guardian that they have not encountered such brutality since the war began in April. They stated, “The majority of the conflict occurred in close proximity to the IDP camps in Abuja and Nevsha, with intense use of heavy artillery.”
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have enlisted numerous soldiers from the eastern Nile area in central Sudan, located near Wad Madani, at the beginning of the conflict under the leadership of commander Abu Agla Mohamed Ahmed Kaikel. He was previously aligned with the army. It appears that his troops within the RSF have launched an attack on Wad Madani city.
Source: theguardian.com
