Thousands flee Sudan capital as clashes rage despite truce
Published: 05:04 PM,Apr 19,2023 | EDITED : 09:04 PM,Apr 19,2023
KHARTOUM: Thousands of residents fled Sudan's capital on Wednesday as fighting between the army and paramilitaries raged for a fifth day after a 24-hour truce collapsed.
The violence erupted on Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
It followed a bitter dispute between them over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army -- a key condition for a final deal aimed at restoring Sudan's democratic transition.
Deafening explosions rattled buildings and heavy gunfire were heard in Khartoum, as witnesses said plumes of thick black smoke emanated from buildings around the army headquarters in central Khartoum.
RSF fighters atop armoured vehicles and pick-up trucks laden with heavy weapons swarmed the streets, as the army's fighter jets roared overhead and fired on RSF targets, the witnesses said.
Civilians huddled in their homes were becoming increasingly desperate, with dwindling food supplies, power outages, and a lack of running water.
Their hopes of being evacuated were dashed when a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire collapsed within minutes of its proposed start at 1600 GMT on Tuesday.
Thousands of people took matters into their own hands and, according to witnesses, began leaving their homes in Khartoum, some in cars and others on foot, including women and children.
The fighting has killed at least 185 people and injured more than 1,800, according to the United Nations.
But the real figure is thought to be far higher with many wounded unable to reach hospitals, which are themselves being shelled, according to the official doctors' union.
Governments have starting planning to evacuate thousands of foreigners stuck in the country, among them many UN staff.
The US Embassy in Khartoum said it started gathering citizens' personal details while urging them to remain indoors and stay away from windows.
The violence has also seen a US diplomatic convoy fired upon, the European Union's ambassador attacked at home and a Belgian humanitarian official with the EU hospitalised after reportedly being shot.
The RSF pointed the finger at the army for 'committing violations' and breaching the ceasefire by launching 'sporadic attacks' on its forces and bases around the capital. — AFP
The violence erupted on Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
It followed a bitter dispute between them over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army -- a key condition for a final deal aimed at restoring Sudan's democratic transition.
Deafening explosions rattled buildings and heavy gunfire were heard in Khartoum, as witnesses said plumes of thick black smoke emanated from buildings around the army headquarters in central Khartoum.
RSF fighters atop armoured vehicles and pick-up trucks laden with heavy weapons swarmed the streets, as the army's fighter jets roared overhead and fired on RSF targets, the witnesses said.
Civilians huddled in their homes were becoming increasingly desperate, with dwindling food supplies, power outages, and a lack of running water.
Their hopes of being evacuated were dashed when a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire collapsed within minutes of its proposed start at 1600 GMT on Tuesday.
Thousands of people took matters into their own hands and, according to witnesses, began leaving their homes in Khartoum, some in cars and others on foot, including women and children.
The fighting has killed at least 185 people and injured more than 1,800, according to the United Nations.
But the real figure is thought to be far higher with many wounded unable to reach hospitals, which are themselves being shelled, according to the official doctors' union.
Governments have starting planning to evacuate thousands of foreigners stuck in the country, among them many UN staff.
The US Embassy in Khartoum said it started gathering citizens' personal details while urging them to remain indoors and stay away from windows.
The violence has also seen a US diplomatic convoy fired upon, the European Union's ambassador attacked at home and a Belgian humanitarian official with the EU hospitalised after reportedly being shot.
The RSF pointed the finger at the army for 'committing violations' and breaching the ceasefire by launching 'sporadic attacks' on its forces and bases around the capital. — AFP