Sudan crisis: Air strikes hit Khartoum despite truce
Khartoum’s capital has been pounded by air strikes despite an agreement to allow civilians to leave.
The army claimed it attacked the city in order to eliminate its paramilitary competitors, the Rapid Support Forces.
Even as both sides announced that they would extend their truce for another three days, the fighting continued.
The true death toll is believed to be higher than the reported 500. Millions of people are still trapped in Khartoum.
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RSF chief Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Army commander Gen Abdel Fath al-Burhan, also known as Hemedti are fighting for power, and they disagree about plans to incorporate the RSF into army.
After intensive diplomatic efforts from neighbouring countries as well as the US, UK, and UN, the generals reached an agreement on a humanitarian ceasefire. The truce was extended but not maintained.
According to the army, the Army is still unsure of what will happen in the next phase of the agreement reached with US and Saudi mediators.
Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese philanthropist and businessman, believes that the country is in a civil conflict and it must be prevented from spilling over into other countries.
He told BBC that he did not want another Syria and said it was hard for either side win outright.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams who is monitoring the events from Nairobi in Kenya, said that the fighting was concentrated in the north of Khartoum near the confluence between the Blue and White Niles. But people in all parts of the city are still huddled inside their homes wondering if it’s safer to stay or to leave.
Our correspondent says that the army will have a hard time expelling the RSF. Despite the superior firepower of the army, the paramilitaries, who are more mobile, are better suited for urban warfare.
The army announced that it had carried out operations against RSF troops to the north of the centre of the city before the announcement on Sunday.
Checkpoint – ‘Gamble’
The World Food Programme announced on Monday that it would resume its operations in Sudan. This reverses its decision of two weeks ago to withdraw after three members of staff were killed in fighting in Khartoum.
Hamid Khalafallah from the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy is among those who are unable to escape.
“When there’s a very loud explosion and it gets close, we seek shelter in our house. We try to gather everyone together and get to a central area, away from windows and walls. Just lie down on the ground until the bombing passes.
He told BBC Newsday that when the distance is a little further, he would use his quiet time – two hours per day – to quickly get what he needed. It’s risky, but a necessary one.
Mr Khalafallah stated that his neighborhood was littered with RSF checkpoints. People risked their lives each time they tried to navigate their way through.
“It is a game of chance.” They let you pass sometimes, and they don’t other times. It’s random. Sometimes they shoot, sometimes they steal.
Mr Khalafallah claimed that he had not received a single drop of water at his home since the fighting began on 15 April. He was receiving it from neighbours with wells in their homes.
First major aid flight with medical supplies has arrived.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, a plane carrying eight tonnes of supplies for hospitals and other relief efforts landed in Port Sudan.
In a statement, it was stated that “Hostilities are still continuing, and ICRC teams need to be guaranteed safe passage by the parties in the conflict before they can deliver these materials to medical facilities located at locations where there is active fighting such as Khartoum.”
As a result, more than 70% of hospitals in the capital were forced to shut down as a direct result of the violence that broke out on April 15.
In the midst of chaos, foreign countries are evacuating nationals.
On Sunday, the UK government announced that it will organise one final evacuation flight for British citizens on Monday. This comes two days after the UK government said it was ending its operation to evacuate British nationals. Foreign Office (FCDO), advised anyone wishing to depart to get to Port Sudan’s evacuation point before 12 noon (10:00 GMT). FCDO said that 2,122 people had been evacuated so far.
A convoy organized by the US has arrived in Port Sudan for the purpose of evacuating more US citizens to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The report said that hundreds of Americans have already left in addition to those diplomats who were evacuated via air last week.
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