The possibility of a long-term ceasefire that would help ease a worsening humanitarian crisis was undermined by airstrikes heard in Khartoum on Wednesday, even as the warring parties agreed to a fresh seven-day ceasefire beginning on Thursday.
Martin Griffiths, the head of the UN’s relief efforts, arrived in Port Sudan to “reaffirm” his dedication to the Sudanese people. His spokeswoman stated that enhancing safe passage for humanitarian aid would be a top priority.
According to the United Nations, the violence has also caused a humanitarian disaster, forcing about 100,000 people to escape to neighbouring countries with no food or water.
In a country where roughly one-third of the population already depended on humanitarian aid, aid deliveries have been delayed. As Sudan’s poor neighbors deal with the influx of refugees, a larger catastrophe could be on the horizon.
The length of previous cease-fire agreements between the army and a paramilitary unit, whose power struggle turned into a full-fledged conflict in the middle of April, has varied from 24 to 72 hours, but none have been entirely adhered to.
A week-long ceasefire from Thursday to May 11 has been agreed upon by both sides, according to a statement released by South Sudan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday. Envoys have also been named for peace negotiations. On Wednesday, the present cease-fire was scheduled to end.
However, it was unclear how paramilitary Rapid Support forces (RSF) commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan would proceed.
RSF units buried in the capital region’s residential areas have been bombed by army jets.
The RSF, which was born out of tribal militias that fought with government forces in a violent civil war that lasted 20 years, has now moved conflict to western Darfur in Sudan.
Although neither side appears capable of winning an immediate victory, the commanders of the army and RSF, who had previously shared power as part of an internationally supported transition towards free elections and civilian government, have shown no signs of giving in.
Khartoum, one of the biggest cities in Africa, has been engulfed in fighting for the third week in a row, which has claimed hundreds of lives. The Health Ministry of Sudan said on Tuesday that 4,926 people had been injured and 550 had died.
Thousands of foreign citizens were being sent home as evacuation efforts by foreign governments came to an end. Any remaining Britons who want to leave should head to Port Sudan on the Red Sea on Wednesday, according to a statement from Britain.