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Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continues to escalate. This devastating conflict has claimed thousands of lives and resulted in widespread destruction, with both sides engaged in a relentless battle for control. On Saturday, artillery shelling and airstrikes in greater Khartoum killed at least 56 people, adding to the toll of civilian casualties in the ongoing war.
Shelling Hits Busy Market in Omdurman
One of the most deadly incidents occurred in Omdurman, part of the greater Khartoum area, where a shell hit a crowded vegetable market. According to medical sources and activists, the RSF’s shelling killed 54 people and injured 158 others, many of them women and children. The shelling occurred in the middle of the market, making the impact devastating. Survivors who spoke to AFP described the scene as utter chaos, with injured people scattered throughout the area.
Local hospitals, including Al-Nao Hospital, which is one of the last remaining medical facilities in Omdurman, were overwhelmed by the number of casualties. The hospital faced dire shortages of essential supplies, including shrouds, blood donors, and stretchers, as medical personnel worked tirelessly to treat the wounded. However, the situation was grim, with some reports indicating that a shell had exploded just meters away from the hospital, further endangering both patients and healthcare workers.
Airstrikes in Khartoum Cause Further Loss of Life
Meanwhile, across the Nile in Khartoum, airstrikes targeted areas under RSF control, resulting in the deaths of two civilians and injuring dozens of others. These airstrikes were carried out by the Sudanese Army, which retains a monopoly on using fighter jets for such attacks, while the RSF has employed drones in some of their operations. Despite the RSF’s denials, both sides have been accused of indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
These airstrikes have become a regular feature of the conflict in Khartoum, where entire neighborhoods have been destroyed by both artillery fire and aerial bombardment. The fighting has left the capital in a state of devastation, with entire districts now controlled by armed groups and the city’s infrastructure largely obliterated.
Humanitarian Crisis and Overwhelmed Medical Facilities
The ongoing fighting in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Hospitals across the capital are unable to handle the overwhelming number of casualties. Chris Lockyear, General Secretary of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), visited Al-Nao Hospital on Saturday and described the scene as catastrophic. “The morgue is full of dead bodies,” he stated, noting that injured patients were lying everywhere in the emergency room as medics struggled to provide care.
The lack of medical resources and staff has been a significant challenge, as many doctors and nurses have fled the conflict zones or been unable to access affected areas. The Sudanese Doctors’ Union has also called for more medical personnel to come to the aid of overwhelmed hospitals. At Al-Nao, the lack of necessary supplies, including stretchers and blood donations, has led to a dire situation where medical professionals are simply unable to provide adequate care to all the wounded.
Widespread Displacement and Hunger in Sudan
The war in Sudan has displaced over 12 million people, both within the country and across borders into neighboring countries. Many civilians are trapped in besieged neighborhoods, cut off from aid and basic supplies. In addition to the heavy toll in human lives, the conflict has pushed millions into dire hunger. According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, an estimated 106,000 people in Khartoum are facing famine conditions, and millions more are experiencing food insecurity.
This situation is mirrored across the country, where famine has been declared in five regions, including Darfur. The UN warns that if the conflict persists, famine is expected to spread to five more regions by May 2025. As the conflict drags on, it has become clear that the toll on Sudan’s population is devastating, with civilians bearing the brunt of the fighting.
Continued Battles and Shifting Alliances
In addition to the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Army and RSF, other militia groups have become involved in the violence. On Saturday, a militia allied with the Sudanese Army, known as the Sudan Shield Forces, claimed control of several towns southeast of Khartoum. This includes Tamboul, Rufaa, Al-Hasaheisa, and Al-Hilaliya, which are strategically important due to their proximity to vital supply routes. These forces are led by Abu Aqla Kaykal, a former RSF commander who defected to the Army last year.
The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has vowed to retake Khartoum, and recent clashes have seen the Army breaking RSF sieges on key military bases in the capital. The power struggle between these two forces shows no signs of abating, and civilians remain trapped in the crossfire.
The Global Community’s Response
Despite international calls for a ceasefire and peace talks, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to provide aid to those in need, with access to affected regions limited by the ongoing fighting. The international community has expressed concern over the dire situation in Sudan, but efforts to end the conflict have thus far been unsuccessful.
As the conflict continues to ravage Sudan, the world watches as millions of people suffer from displacement, violence, and starvation. It is clear that the crisis in Sudan is not just a regional issue, but a global one that requires immediate and sustained international intervention.
