Clashes continue in Sudan's western state

KHARTOUM — Deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, continued on Saturday in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State in western Sudan.

No official figures have been issued on the number of victims in the conflict in the city which began about a week ago.

"The city is experiencing catastrophic humanitarian conditions beyond all expectations," the Nyala Emergency Room Initiative, or NERI, a humanitarian group in the city, said.

Clashes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and serious humanitarian violations, with all the hospitals in the state breaking down due to a large number of injuries and a complete lack of health materials, according to the statement.

It said the interruption in communication services has prevented volunteers from reaching the city to provide lifesaving assistance.

The statement noted that almost all the citizens in the central and southern parts of the city have been displaced, with thousands of children and women fleeing to the northern and western areas but finding themselves in a dire situation without shelter, water, and food.

The heads of 20 global humanitarian organizations said in a joint statement last week that the international community has "no excuse" to stall on helping civilians.

It said two appeals for aid to support some 19 million Sudanese "are just over 27 percent funded. Please change that".

Meanwhile, Minni Arko Minnawi, the governor of the Darfur region, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday to voice his concern, stating that "the war has left dozens dead and hundreds injured".

"The capacity of hospitals is not enough, given the number of injuries, amid critical living conditions," he said, calling for humanitarian aid to Nyala residents.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF since April 15, which have resulted in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry.

Xinhua - Agencies