Another Ceasefire ‘Promised’ as More Flee
Current Figures
At least 528 killed and 4,599 wounded
7-day ceasefire starting May 4
ICRC: first aid convoy (8 tons of medical aid) arrived on April 30th
IOM: 330,000 + have been displaced, more than 70% of them in West and South Darfur
According to UNHCR as of May 1:
42,000 fled to Egypt (40,000 refugees, 2,000 3rd country nationals)
30,000 fled to Chad
27,275 fled to South Sudan (20,932 SS returnees, 3,364 3rd country nationals, 2,2679 refugees)
8,900 fled to Ethiopia (7,280 3rd country nationals, 870 refugees, 750 Ethiopian returnees)
6,000 fled to CAR (5,600 refugees, 400 CAR returnees)
UNHCR warns of the possibility of 800,000 + may flee Sudan
Ceasefire
Both warring parties agreed to a 7-day ceasefire on May 2, presumably to begin on May 4. The mediation was led by South Sudan’s President, Salva Kirr. The generals stated that representatives would be sent for peace talks “to be held at an agreed venue of their choice.” According to UN special envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes, Saudi Arabia is in talks as being a possible venue.
Fighting has continued in Khartoum despite the agreed upon 72-hr ceasefire.
Collapse of Healthcare
“Sudanese medics have described seeing piles of bodies in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, people drinking polluted water, and doctors working under bombardments [...]”, naming the situation an “environmental catastrophe”. Severe cases of disease are on the rise as those who are without access to water have become desperate and drink from the Nile.
There have been reported attacks on health personnel, facilities and ambulances. According to WHO, “16 hospitals (including nine in Khartoum) are reportedly non-functional due to attacks and 16 hospitals in Khartoum and other states, including Darfur States, are close to being non-functional due to staff fatigue and lack of supplies.” Approximately 70% of hospitals in or near battlegrounds are out of service. According to the Sudan Doctors’ Trade Union, “60 out of the 86 hospitals in and near battle zones are unable to function, whereas 25 out of 26 remaining hospitals are only able to operate "with very limited capacity"”. The country now has only one partially working surgical room.
The few hospitals that are still open are running dangerously low on blood, medications, and oxygen. Childbirth has become incredibly complicated as obstetrics equipment is running low. Risks of infections are mounting under the conditions and some urgent procedures have become impossible. “Roughly 12 thousand patients are currently exposed to the risk of death from renal failure complications as most centres have run out of supplies. These centres usually handled 140,000 dialysis sessions per month.”
Source: Baron’s
Looking Forward
Food and water are quickly becoming scarce in the capital. While the UN was able to make a shipment of aid supplies to the Port of Sudan, they are currently being warehoused as deliveries are ruled impossible due to fighting and looting. Should the fighting continue through yet another proposed ceasefire, those who have been left behind will surely face even further dire circumstances. As hospitals have continued to be shelled and supplies are close to running out, the death toll will no doubt soar.
With so many false promises of ceasefires, it will be shocking if the generals actually adhere to the agreement and are able to control their soldiers. As the healthcare in Sudan is nearing a full collapse and diseases are spreading, a ceasefire is critically needed. Should both sides continue the battle, the humanitarian situation in Sudan will become chaotic on a higher level. And as those currently in Sudan develop diseases out of desperation and without medical attention, it will spread across borders sooner or later. Many across the globe will be holding their breaths until May 4th arrives, hoping that a ceasefire will finally materialise. Yet, continuing reports of both parties attacking hospitals, throwing people out of their homes, and already committing various human rights crimes adds to the unlikelihood that either general will ever turn the government over to civilian rule, as their lists of war crimes continue to accumulate.