The seven day ceasefire in Sudan is being regularly violated by all sides, as humanitarian agencies face a race against time to deliver aid to people before the rainy season makes parts of the country inaccessible, Islamic Relief says.
Nearly six weeks of conflict has created a humanitarian crisis with almost 25 million people now in need of food, medicine, cash and other aid. While some aid is being provided, it’s limited by the extreme violence – which is continuing despite the ceasefire that came into effect earlier this week, especially in Khartoum and Darfur. Now Sudan’s rainy season, which usually starts in June and lasts until around October, is expected to put some roads out of service and make more rural communities inaccessible.
More than 1 million people have fled their homes and are internally displaced within Sudan since the fighting began in mid-April. More people are fleeing the ongoing destruction in the capital, Khartoum, every day, and Islamic Relief teams on the ground see thousands of people arriving in Al Jazirah State with hardly any belongings.
Islamic Relief is calling on the warring parties to respect the ceasefire they have agreed to and ensure humanitarian agencies can access people in need before the rains intensify in June.
Islamic Relief teams are delivering food, hygiene kits and other aid to internally displaced people (IDPs) in Darfur, Al Jazirah and Gedaref, but much more is needed. We are also running health centres in Darfur, though stocks of medicine are running low and the insecurity makes it challenging to restock. Our office in Khartoum remains closed and was raided by armed groups.
Eltahir Imam, an Islamic Relief programme manager in Sudan, said:
“The speed and scale of the humanitarian response continues to be impeded by ongoing violence and breaches of ceasefire agreements. We are in a race against time to get aid to millions of people before the rainy season arrives in June. The fighting must stop to allow accelerated aid delivery before the rains or there will be massive further suffering. The number of people we see fleeing Khartoum is increasing every day as the capital continues to be destroyed by the conflict.”
Islamic Relief’s Country Director in Sudan, Elsadig Elnour, who had to evacuate his own home in Khartoum with his family and is now in Gedaref, said:
“The ceasefire agreement is not holding. It only takes a single stray bullet or out of control soldier to kill you. We call upon all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and allow aid to reach those who need it most.”
At least 11 attacks against humanitarian offices in Khartoum, and four attacks against health facilities, have been reported since the signing of the Jeddah Declaration by both warring parties earlier in May.
Food prices have increased since the conflict began and many people in Sudan are still facing challenges getting money from banks.