 "A man walks by a house hit in recent fighting in Khartoum, Sudan, an area torn by fighting between the military and the notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, on April 25, 2023. AP File")
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed at least 50 people in Khartoum over the past week, according to rescuers, as the battle for control of the capital between the RSF and the army intensifies.
“Khartoum is experiencing tragic conditions, with citizens in multiple areas facing widespread violations by the RSF and allied militias,” the Khartoum Emergency Response Room, a network of volunteers coordinating aid efforts across Sudan, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The group reported that around 70 people, including 12 volunteers, had been abducted during the past week, while forced displacement had surged across central, southern, and eastern parts of the city. Cases of sexual violence have also been reported, though exact figures remain unclear due to fear and stigma preventing survivors from coming forward.
Hunger crisis deepens
Malnutrition has reached “dangerous” levels, the volunteer group warned, with at least seven children dying since the start of March. The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, estimates that 3.2 million children in Sudan will face malnutrition this year, as famine grips parts of the war-ravaged country.
A UN-backed assessment has declared famine in three displacement camps in the western region of Darfur, as well as in the Nuba Mountains to the south. The escalating conflict has exacerbated food shortages, with humanitarian groups warning of catastrophic consequences if aid deliveries do not reach affected areas soon.
Battle for Khartoum
The war between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which erupted in April 2023, has intensified in recent months, with both sides vying for control of Khartoum and other strategic locations. The army said on Monday that its forces advancing from the south had linked up with troops in the city centre, increasing pressure on RSF fighters and moving closer to retaking the capital.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn a video address shared on Telegram over the weekend, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo appeared wearing a kadamol headscarf, commonly associated with his forces, and declared that his troops “will not leave the Republican Palace,” signalling their intent to hold their positions despite the army’s advances.
The world’s largest displacement crisis
The war has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, killing tens of thousands and displacing more than 12 million people. Khartoum alone has seen at least 3.5 million people forced from their homes, while across the country, over 100,000 people are facing acute famine conditions, according to the UN.