Sudan conflict drags into 100th day; civilian plane crash kills 9

KHARTOUM — Clashes flared in parts of Sudan on the 100th day of the civil conflict on Sunday as nine people, including four soldiers, were killed on Sunday when a civilian plane crashed due to "technical "reasons, the army said.

The fighting broke out on April 15 as the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, vied for power. Since then, more than 3 million people have been uprooted, including more than 700,000 who have fled to neighboring countries.

According to the Health Ministry, 1,136 people have been killed, though some believe the number might be higher.

Neither the army nor the RSF has been able to claim victory, with the RSF's domination on the ground in the capital Khartoum up against the army's air and artillery firepower.

Late on Sunday, the Sudanese army said the civilian Antonov plane crashed due to a technical failure at Port Sudan airport in the east.

The airport, located about 900 kilometers east of Khartoum, has been used as the country's main airport after Khartoum International Airport became out of service because of armed clashes between the two parties.

Across the country, about one-third of the population already faced hunger even before the conflict began, said the United Nations' World Food Programme. Despite the security challenges, the agency says it has reached more than 1.4 million people with emergency food aid as needs intensify.

Infrastructure and government in the capital have fallen apart while fighting has spread westward and southward, Reuters reported.

Thousands who remain in the capital, particularly in Khartoum North, are trapped without water since the local water station was damaged at the start of the conflict.

Power out

Residents say there is only intermittent electricity and food has nearly run out.

In Nyala, one of the country's largest cities, clashes have continued since Thursday in residential areas, according to witnesses. At least 20 people have been killed, medical sources said. The United Nations says 5,000 families have been displaced, and residents have reported looting of key facilities.

"Bullets are flying into homes. We are terrified and no one is protecting us," said 35-year-old Salah Abdallah.

While the two sides have shown openness toward mediation efforts led by regional and international actors, none has resulted in a sustained cease-fire.

Both sides have sent delegations to attempt to restart talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, that have yielded truces.

Agencies Via Xinhua