Al Fiteihab, a district in the city of Omdurman across the Nile from Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, is at the forefront of the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Residents in search of food have had to navigate RSF checkpoints, as well as endure artillery and sniper fire from both the RSF and the army.
People are afraid to leave their homes due to the fear of harassment and beatings. Mahmoud Mohammed, 60, reported being robbed and whipped by RSF fighters when he attempted to go to a market last December.
“When I returned home, my jalabia was stained with blood,” he said, referring to the traditional robe he was wearing. A family member confirmed that Mohammed was bloody upon his arrival home.
Mohammed’s wife ventured out looking for food but stopped upon hearing about detained women and disappearances. Reports of these incidents remain unconfirmed.
Residents report damaged electrical and water facilities, leading to power and water shortages. Drinking untreated Nile water has caused diarrhea. Over 10, 000 suspected cholera cases have been reported by the World Health Organization due to the ongoing war.
In response to the dire needs of thousands of residents in Al Fiteihab during the war, a group of volunteers took it upon themselves to establish soup kitchens as a means of providing basic sustenance. These makeshift kitchens were set up early on, serving meager portions of gruel, rice, and flatbread once or twice a day to alleviate the hunger and hardship faced by the community.
Nevertheless, the communal kitchens faced a significant challenge as they were compelled to cut back on the meals being offered due to a decrease in supplies caused by an RSF siege in the area during July. This critical situation was brought to light by volunteer Mohieldin Jaafar, who shared this distressing information with Reuters.
Volunteers in “emergency response rooms” nationwide assist with feeding and evacuating residents. Tragically, three volunteers lost their lives in Al Fiteihab last year while aiding others. In late February, the Sudanese army made advances in the area, breaking the siege on one part of Al Fiteihab, allowing food to start trickling in.
The military and RSF staged a coup against al-Bashir in 2019. Conflict erupted over a civilian transition, with RSF seizing control despite the army’s military advantage. Darfur saw increased RSF control amid prolonged conflict and displacement.
The ongoing war has sparked waves of ethnic killings in Darfur. Reuters has documented the violence, which was led by the RSF and its allied militias. Through a series of reports, the news agency revealed how the conflict unleashed a deadly, racially motivated campaign against the Masalit people of West Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) originated from militias deployed to suppress an insurgency that erupted in Darfur in the early 2000s. By 2008, an estimated 300, 000 people had perished in the violence, with many succumbing to starvation.
According to U.N. estimates, the war in Sudan has so far claimed the lives of more than 14, 000 people and displaced over eight million from their homes, making Sudan the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Before the conflict, Khartoum had been largely unaffected by the fighting that devastated Darfur. However, many residents of the capital are now caught in a war zone between the army and the RSF.
The report states that about 2, 800 individuals are trapped near the Sudanese army’s base in Al Shajarah neighborhood, Khartoum, as per volunteers who escaped the area recently.
One of the volunteers, Gihad Salaheldin, reported that after running out of food, men started sneaking out at night to search for supplies. Residents have also been drinking untreated water from the Nile, according to volunteers.
However, little international aid is reaching Sudan as humanitarian agencies face challenges obtaining the required entry and transport permits from authorities. The United States and the European Union have criticized both the army and the RSF for the failure in aid distribution.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry accuses RSF of plundering and blocking aid, aid agencies support the claim. RSF denies looting, and promises accountability for rogue members.
Doctors Without Borders assessed North Darfur’s Zamzam camp, revealing alarming child mortality rates and high malnutrition levels among young children.
Jan Egeland, representing the Norwegian Refugee Council, issued a dire warning that if urgent humanitarian aid does not promptly reach the region of Darfur, it will undoubtedly result in a catastrophic death sentence for millions of individuals who are currently facing extreme desperation and dire circumstances.
In South Darfur’s Kalma camp, adults survive on sorghum gruel while malnourished children battle infections and malaria, aid workers report.
Adam Clark
Adam Clark AKA “Ruckus” is the host and producer of The Daily Ruckus, a news and opinion based podcast that started out as a hobby but eventually became a regular show featured on Alternate Current Radio.
A self-described Jack-of-all-trades, he is a business and marketing consultant, graphic designer, webmaster, content creator, media analyst, and prolific commentator. Adam’s interests are in cryptohistory, media, current events, science & technology, and avoiding contact with sharks.
