At least 97 civilians have been killed in Sudan since the outbreak of armed conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday, a medical group has said.
The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, an independent medical group, said on Monday that 41 civilians were killed on Sunday, the second day of fighting.
“Thus, the number of civilian deaths since the beginning of the clashes reached 97, while the number of injuries since the beginning of these events has reached 942, including both civilians and military personnel,” the group said.
On Sunday, the Sudan Army intensified its attacks on the RSF positions in the capital Khartoum and different regions using warplanes and heavy weapons. The army on Sunday said they retook control of Merowe airport and seven RSF bases in Khartoum, Port Sudan, Kassala, Gedaref, Damazin, Kosti, and Kadugli.
Both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire to evacuate the wounded and allow civilians, who were trapped in their buildings during the conflict, to move and get food and supplies.
The commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, and the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Gen Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, agreed to the ceasefire proposal made by UNITAMS head Volker Perthes.
The ceasefire was meant to last between 4:00pm to 7.00pm local time, but there are reports that shooting continued nonetheless.
– Supplies
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of critical shortages of essential medical supplies and personnel, with many hospitals in Khartoum facing shortages of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids, and other life-saving commodities. The WHO said that “there are also reports of shortages of specialized medical personnel, including anesthesiologists.”
The capital is experiencing water and power shortages, which are affecting the functionality of health facilities, while fuel shortages are impacting hospital generators.
Fighting has continued and its impact on civilians continue to be a major concern. Tshe United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The escalation risks further fueling the devastating humanitarian crisis that has plagued Sudan for years.
On Monday, local news organization Dabanga, reported that internal and local efforts and negotiation initiatives to contain the crisis had come to a halt, as the warring parties refused to communicate.
Discover more from Pluboard
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.