Sudan issues do not indicate ease, U.N. alerts of breaking point

May 2, 2023: As foreign places have winded down evacuating from Sudan, the United Nations has cautioned of a humanitarian point of breaking with no let up in fighting amid rival military factions even after a supposed ceasefire extension.

Hundreds of people have been executed and thousands wounded over 16 days of fights since long-simmering issues between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into conflict on April 15.

There seems to be a prospect of a quick resolution to the crisis, which has uncovered a humanitarian disaster, damaging swathes of the capital Khartoum, risked drawing in main powers and united a simmering conflict in the Darfur region.

On Sunday, both sides had agreed to extend a violated truce by 72 hours, but the airstrikes and anti-aircraft fire sounds rang out all over Khartoum.

“We saw dead bodies. An industrial area that was all looted. We saw people carrying T.V.s on their backs and big sacks which loot from factories,” stated Mohamed Ezzeldin, fleeing Khartoum but returning because the influx of different people had made prices too high elsewhere.

Millions of Sudanese have fled, along with many foreigners pulled out by their administrations over the past week in complex air, sea and land operations. European countries, which included Germany, have ended their evacuations, and Britain’s previous evacuation flight will depart on Monday.

Those remaining face bitter hardship and bad danger.

Power and water prices are uncertain, little food or fuel, the hospitals and sanitariums are out of service, and zooming transport costs make it even harder to leave.

The U.N. and other aid organizations have had to slash services due to insecurity and with most foreign staff evacuated. However, the World Food Programme resumed operations on Monday after staff were murdered early in the war.