Sudan's war-ravaged Khartoum tiptoes back to life after recapture by army
KHARTOUM: In war-ravaged Khartoum donkey carts clatter over worn asphalt, the smell of tomatoes wafts from newly reopened stalls and pedestrians dodge burnt-out cars left by two years of war.Life is slowly, cautiously returning to the Sudanese capital, weeks after the army recaptured the city from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who had held it since soon after fighting erupted in April 2023.Stallholder Maqbool Essa Mohamed was laying out his wares in the large market in the southern neighborhood of Kalakla.'People feel safe again,' he said. 'Business is moving and there's security.'Just weeks ago this market was deserted – shops shuttered, streets silent and snipers perched on rooftops.In a lightning offensive in March, the army recaptured the city center, including the presidential palace and the airport, and the RSF was shed back into the western outskirts of greater Khartoum.But the RSF remain within artillery range of the city center, as they demonstrated twice this week with a bombardment of the army's General Command headquarters last Saturday followed by shelling of the presidential palace on Thursday.Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted 13 million.In greater Khartoum alone, more than 3.5 million people have fled their homes, leaving entire neighborhoods abandoned.Within the next six months, the UN expects more than two million displaced people to return to the capital if security conditions allow.Kalakla, a neighborhood on the road to Jebel Awliya – once an RSF bastion – suffered heavily during the war.Its location close to a military base made it a prime target, with RSF fighters encircling the area and cutting off food and water for the civilians trapped inside.In July 2023 activists called it 'uninhabitable.'But now women can be seen on the roadside brewing tea – a common sight before the war – as a man dragging his suitcase stands beside a minibus, newly arrived in the war-torn neighborhood.Public transport has yet to return to normal as fragile security conditions and crumbling infrastructure impede movement.With buses packed to capacity, weary commuters climb atop vehicles, preferring the risky ride over an indefinite wait for the next bus – which may not come for hours.From January, the army began advancing in the greater Khartoum area and by late March had wrested back control of both Khartoum and the industrial city of Khartoum North just across the Blue Nile.Standing amid the wreckage of the presidential palace, army chief Burhan declared: 'Khartoum is free.'The paramilitaries are now confined to the southern and western outskirts of Omdurman, the third of the three cities that make up greater Khartoum.Both sides in the conflict have been accused of war crimes, including deliberately targeting civilians and indiscriminately bombing residential neighborhoods.The RSF in particular has been notorious for systematic sexual violence, ethnic cleansing and rampant looting.'They left nothing,' said Mohamed Al-Mahdi, a longtime resident. 'They destroyed the country and took our property.'Today, Mahdi steers his bicycle through the recovering market, where vehicles, animal carts and pedestrians jostle for space under the wary eye of the army.Earlier this month, Sudan's state news agency reported that the army-backed government plans to restore the water supply to the area – a basic necessity still out of reach for many.But for vendor Serelkhitm Shibti, the costs of the war are not about lost income or damaged infrastructure.'What pains me is every drop of blood that fell in this land, not the money I lost,' he said.
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Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Sudan's collapsing healthcare system a global emergency
Sudan is currently grappling with one of the worst humanitarian and public health crises in the world, as its healthcare system is collapsing under the weight of ongoing civil conflict. The war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has inflicted immense damage on the country's medical infrastructure. Over the past two years, the violence has destroyed more than 250 hospitals and healthcare facilities, either through direct bombardment or looting. At least 60 percent of pharmacies and medical warehouses have been looted, burned or rendered inoperable. Medical professionals have fled or been killed and those who remain are often targeted or are unable to safely reach their workplaces. Basic medical supplies, electricity, clean water and fuel are scarce or nonexistent in many parts of the country. The breakdown of health services has not only left millions without access to essential care but has also created ideal conditions for deadly disease outbreaks to spread unchecked. Amid this destruction, the World Health Organization and the UN have raised alarms about the spiraling health emergency. Sudan now faces simultaneous outbreaks of cholera, malaria, measles and dengue, diseases that are being exacerbated by the collapse of sanitation systems, unsafe water sources and overcrowded refugee camps. More than 20 million people — almost half the country's population — are in urgent need of medical care. Immunization campaigns have been halted and the absence of preventive medicine has led to the rapid reemergence of diseases once under control. The WHO has recorded at least 156 attacks on healthcare workers and facilities since the war began and these attacks continue to impede even the most basic humanitarian responses. The UN has called Sudan one of the world's largest and most-neglected emergencies, noting that more than 12.4 million people have been displaced and famine is either present or imminent in several areas. Children are especially vulnerable: millions face severe malnutrition, lack access to medical care and are increasingly at risk of exploitation, trafficking and death. If this crisis continues without immediate intervention, Sudan faces an impending humanitarian catastrophe that will have devastating consequences for its people for generations to come. The complete collapse of the healthcare system means that diseases will spread without resistance, maternal and infant mortality will surge and chronic illnesses will go untreated. With hospitals destroyed and doctors in hiding or exiled, even the simplest medical emergencies can become fatal. With hospitals destroyed and doctors in hiding or exiled, even the simplest medical emergencies can become fatal Dr. Majid Rafizadeh The loss of educational and training institutions also means that rebuilding the health sector will take decades, even under optimal conditions. Famine, disease and the psychological trauma of war are already corroding the foundations of society, deepening poverty and dismantling any remaining trust in institutions. If the fighting persists, the country could be left with an entire generation deprived not only of healthcare, but of security, education and hope. The consequences of the collapse of Sudan's healthcare system will not remain contained within its borders. The conflict has already displaced more than 3.3 million people into neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic. These nations, already burdened with fragile health systems and limited resources, are now under immense strain as they attempt to care for large numbers of malnourished and sick refugees. Infectious diseases like cholera, which thrive in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, pose a serious threat to regional public health. The breakdown in immunization coverage could result in the cross-border spread of measles and polio, undermining years of health progress in the region. Moreover, the protracted instability in Sudan risks destabilizing the entire Horn of Africa, a region already vulnerable to political fragmentation, insurgency and environmental stress. The global implications of Sudan's health emergency are equally urgent. The ongoing collapse of Sudan's health system and the humanitarian vacuum it creates serve as a dire warning about the fragility of global health security. As we have seen with past pandemics and regional crises, diseases that emerge or expand in one part of the world can quickly spread beyond borders, especially when response efforts are delayed or under-resourced. Moreover, the normalization of attacks on healthcare workers and facilities during armed conflict threatens the sanctity of international humanitarian law. If such violations continue with impunity in Sudan, they could set a precedent for future conflicts, eroding the principles that protect civilians and aid workers globally. The lack of a coordinated international response not only reflects a failure of political will, it also undermines collective commitments to global health and human rights. What is urgently needed is a decisive, coordinated and sustained international response. The first and most pressing step is the implementation of an immediate ceasefire. This would allow for the safe establishment of humanitarian and health corridors — zones where aid organizations can deliver medical supplies, provide vaccinations and treat the wounded without threat of violence. These corridors are essential for saving lives in the short term, especially in regions that have been cut off from aid for months. The UN, the WHO, Doctors Without Borders and other agencies require not only funding but also guaranteed security to operate effectively. Immediate airlifts of medicine, surgical equipment, vaccines and food must be prioritized. Equally important is the political pressure on both warring factions to cease attacks on healthcare infrastructure, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Beyond these urgent interventions, the international community must work in collaboration with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and key regional actors to forge a pathway toward a permanent ceasefire and political resolution. This includes building upon the Jeddah Declaration, which was signed in May 2023 under the auspices of the US and Saudi Arabia. The declaration outlined commitments by both warring parties to protect civilians, allow humanitarian access and refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure. Though the declaration has largely been violated, it remains one of the few frameworks for negotiation that has gained international recognition. Revitalizing the Jeddah process, expanding the number of mediating parties and ensuring local community representation are vital steps toward lasting peace. Without a stable political solution, humanitarian aid alone will never be sufficient. In conclusion, Sudan's health crisis has reached a catastrophic stage and the situation demands the world's immediate and undivided attention. The country's healthcare system is not merely under stress — it is actively disintegrating. Millions are at risk of dying not only from bullets and bombs but from preventable diseases and starvation. The consequences of inaction will reverberate far beyond Sudan's borders, threatening regional health, stability and security. The international community must act now — decisively and urgently — to implement a ceasefire, open health corridors and reengage in meaningful diplomacy. Failure to do so will not only doom millions in Sudan but will mark yet another tragic instance of global neglect in the face of a preventable disaster. • Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Al Arabiya
US, UN, UAE urge Sudan to respect humanitarian law after aid workers killed
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Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Sudan's former premier Hamdok says recent military gains won't end the war
MARRAKECH: Sudan's former prime minister on Wednesday dismissed the military's moves to form a new government as 'fake,' saying its recent victories in recapturing the capital Khartoum and other territory will not end the country's two-year civil war. Abdalla Hamdok said no military victory, in Khartoum or elsewhere, could end the war that has killed tens of thousands and driven millions from their homes. 'Whether Khartoum is captured or not captured, it's irrelevant,' Hamdok said on the sidelines of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's governance conference in Morocco. 'There is no military solution to this. No side will be able to have outright victory.' Hamdok became Sudan's first civilian prime minister after decades of military rule in 2019, trying to lead a democratic transition. He resigned in January 2022 after a turbulent stretch in which he was ousted in a coup and briefly reinstated amid international pressure. The following year, warring generals plunged the country into civil war. Sudan today bears the grim distinction of being home to some of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has left at least 24,000 dead, though many believe the true toll is far worse. Both sides stand accused of war crimes. The RSF, with roots in Darfur's notorious Janjaweed militia, has been accused of carrying out genocide. The army is accused of unleashing chemical weapons and targeting civilians where they live. The war has driven about 13 million people from their homes, including 4 million who have crossed into neighboring countries. Famine is setting in and cholera is sweeping through. The military recaptured the Khartoum area from the RSF in March, as well as some surrounding territory. Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan has framed the advances as a major turning point in the conflict. Last month, he appointed a new prime minister, Kamil Al-Taib Idris, for the first time since the war began, tasked with forming a new government. But the fighting has continued. The RSF has regrouped in its stronghold in Darfur and made advances elsewhere, including in Kordofan. Hamdok, a 69-year-old former economist who now leads a civilian coalition from exile, called the idea that the conflict was drawing down 'total nonsense.' The idea that reconstruction can begin in Khartoum while fighting rages elsewhere is 'absolutely ridiculous,' he said. 'Any attempt at creating a government in Sudan today is fake. It is irrelevant,' he said, arguing that lasting peace can't be secured without addressing the root causes of the war. Hamdok said a ceasefire and a credible process to restore democratic, civilian rule would need to confront Sudan's deep inequalities, including uneven development, issues among different identity groups and questions about the role of religion in government. 'Trusting the soldiers to bring democracy is a false pretense,' he added. Though rooted in longstanding divisions, the war has been supercharged by foreign powers accused of arming both sides. Pro-democracy groups, including Hamdok's Somoud coalition, have condemned atrocities committed by both the army and the RSF. 'What we would like to see is anybody who is supplying arms to any side to stop,' he said.
