El Obeid, Sudan- (African Boulevard News) – Fierce fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Obeid, capital of Kordofan, on Thursday. The clashes resulted in an unknown number of residents being killed. The situation in South Kordofan is relatively stable at present.
RSF Attacks Police Stations, 20 Policemen Killed
During the three-hour-long clashes, the RSF conducted an attack on two police stations, leaving 20 policemen dead, including three senior officials. More than 40 others suffered injuries during the attack. The RSF reportedly used heavy weapons during their assault.
An activist confirmed to Radio Dabanga that the fighting took place in residential areas, around the stadium and near the Army Command. The area saw large reinforcements of RSF vehicles near the Grand Market and the adjacent neighbourhoods.
The dead and wounded were taken to the El Obeid Teaching Hospital. However, many injured people, staff and doctors couldn’t reach the hospital due to the nearby fighting. The Socialist Doctors Association stated that the hospital is operating at its lowest capacity while the number of injuries is high.
The Humanitarian Crisis of El Obeid
As the situation in El Obeid worsens, there is a lack of basic services such as drinking water, bread, medicine and fuel. Activists have reported that the price of petrol has increased fourfold from SDG3,000 to SDG12,000. If the confrontations continue and civilians are not given access to basic services, a humanitarian catastrophe is likely, said one of the activists.
The doctors have appealed to resistance committees, trade unions, professionals, workers, political parties, and Sudanese abroad to form the largest front for action possible and pressure to stop the war, protect civilians and ensure treatment for the injured.
Residents Forced to Flee
Nazifa Awadallah, head of El Obeid Doctors Committee, reported that during fighting in the southern and western parts of the city, 18 more people were killed. About 2,000 people fled their homes. Those who had sheltered in the city center had to flee again, while many others left the city to seek refuge in neighboring El Rahad.
South Kordofan Remains Cautiously Anticipatory
Although South Kordofan is relatively stable at present, an air of cautious anticipation looms as events unfold in the rest of the country. Most people in Kadugli stay at home, and only venture out to buy food, according to Radio Dabanga. The city is also facing a three-fold increase in the prices of basic commodities.
The security committee of Kadugli, the state capital, issued a decision to suspend public transport from Wednesday evening onwards as a precautionary measure. The Electricity Distribution Office issued a power provision schedule due to the scarcity of fuel at the Kadugli power station, causing some water stations to go out of service and leading to a shortage of drinking water. The Emergency Committee of the South Kordofan Ministry of Health has put state hospitals on maximum alert during the Eid El Fitr holiday that started on Thursday.
The situation in Sudan remains tensed, and the government is urged to take immediate action to halt the violence and support the affected civilians.
