WAD MADANI: Paramilitary forces, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have established a base in Wad Madani, formerly considered a safe city in Sudan, leading to the mass displacement of thousands of Sudanese, AFP news agency reported.
The city had been one of Sudan’s few remaining safe sanctuaries, but the escalation of conflict between the army and RSF has disrupted the lives of its residents.
Since the conflict reached Wad Madani on Friday, thousands have sought to escape, facing obstacles such as prohibitive costs and other challenges. The RSF’s presence in the city has intensified the situation, prompting concerns about mass civilian casualties and disruptions to humanitarian efforts.
American ambassador John Godfrey has called on the RSF to cease their advance on Al-Jazirah state, where nearly half a million displaced people sought refuge. He emphasized the need to refrain from attacking the state capital, Wad Madani, as a continued advance risks significant civilian casualties and disrupts humanitarian assistance efforts.
Resurgence of Conflict in Sudan
The International Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has expressed extreme concern over the resurgence of conflict and called for a cessation of hostilities. Wad Madani alone houses more than 86,000 displaced people, with over 270,000 residents dependent on humanitarian aid. The UN has suspended all humanitarian field missions in Al-Jazirah state due to the escalating conflict.
The war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has severely impacted Sudan’s infrastructure, economy, and healthcare system. By early December, the conflict had claimed at least 12,190 lives and internally displaced over 5.4 million people, while approximately 1.3 million have fled abroad.
