Kadugli: Hunger may kill more than the war as agricultural activities grind to a halt
On the streets of Kadugli, the capital city of South Kordofan State, children as young as two years old roam around begging for food. They are seen in the city’s market near bakeries and shops yawning as homes lack basic necessities.
In a country where only members of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) receive regular salaries, the plight of other families is so bad as they lack income and any other support.
Just like other war-torn regions of Sudan, residents of South Kordofan’s nineteen localities face severe conditions in livelihoods and security. The ongoing conflict between warring parties has turned life for residents and displaced persons into a living hell.
Kadugli is particularly hard-hit. Since June last year, battles in the eastern rural areas of the state have pushed many families to seek refuge in the city.
As a result, eleven sheltering houses have been established, with the largest being the Port of Kadugli Sheltering House.
Additionally, displaced persons had already settled in the city due to tribal conflicts in the Lagawa locality of West Kordofan in October 2022. Some 36,000 people to fled to the city, according to a UN humanitarian update.
With the state government’s lack of attention to citizens’ needs and international organisations’ silence, the city’s Emergency Room was activated through community efforts and contributions from residents abroad. A kitchen was set up at Kadugli Teaching Hospital and another at the Children’s Hospital.
The management of Kadugli Emergency Room says hospitals are operating at 50 per cent capacity and do not provide all necessary medicines, especially for chronic conditions. Available medications are expensive. Despite the hospitals and health insurance services, citizens cannot afford medication due to the economic crisis caused by over thirteen months of unpaid state salaries, job losses, and a significant reduction in agricultural land.
Humanitarian aid and medical supplies only come in through South Sudan due to the closure of the road linking South Kordofan with North Kordofan.
Goods reach the city via South Sudan from Al-Na’am market, where transactions are conducted in US dollars due to fluctuating exchange rates. This has led to severe price increases in the city’s markets, affecting purchasing power. Traders say the purchasing rate is very low.
Most large-scale agricultural operations have ceased due to fuel shortages and high prices, with a gallon of diesel costing 100,000 Sudanese pounds, limiting farming to financially capable individuals.
Others have resorted to small-scale gardening near their homes, hoping to benefit from the rainy season.
Although the state government announced an initiative to form a committee to assist residents with farming, citizens view it as mere publicity stunt, unlikely to succeed due to ongoing security issues brought about by the war, which will confine agricultural activities to specific areas.
Atbara: Vendors’ goods lost under bulldozers
Street vendors, kiosk owners, and tea and coffee sellers in Khartoum and other war-affected cities have faced uncertainty. Many have relocated to safer states to continue their struggle for survival amidst the challenging living conditions in Sudan.
Following the fall of Al-Jazirah State to Rapid Support Forces (RSF), social media has spread claims that many vendors and street hawkers were Trojan horses and sleeper cells for the RSF in Atbara, awaiting the signal to act. In Atbara, there is no evidence to support these claims, and no official statements have indicated the arrest of any vendor with weapons or explosives in the market. Nevertheless, security forces have succumbed to these pressures and conducted extensive campaigns to remove kiosks and small businesses, most of which were established before the outbreak of war.
Last week, authorities in Atbara demolished all kiosks, particularly in Ad-Dammer transport hub, led by various security forces, including police, intelligence, and the army.
One affected individual, “Hamid,” who arrived in Atbara from Omdurman in August 2023 and set up a small kiosk selling basic goods, recounted, “When I couldn’t find a rental space in the market, I went to the local administration and obtained a permit for 175,000 pounds for a small kiosk at Ad-Dammer transport hub.”
Business was initially smooth, with regular payment of various fees to health and waste authorities, but this did not last. Hamid explained, “We were all verbally notified of the removal and given only half an hour to clear out.” This situation also occurred at the Atbara port and other areas like Sidon and Abu Hamad. Hamid and others faced violence if they attempted to protest or negotiate.
“H.S.,” a seller of ice who moved from Al-Fao, east to Sinnar State to Atbara in 2004, shared, “The force came and asked us to close our shops without allowing us to move our belongings.” H.S. reported that over 60 ice blocks in his kiosk were destroyed, with each block valued at 6,500 pounds. H.S. rebuilt his kiosk for 400,000 pounds but lost most of his customers, resulting in reduced sales.
Local authorities provided no answers, denying any involvement in the demolitions, and no court orders or official presence were observed besides military and police forces. Hamid and other kiosk owners still do not know who will compensate them for their losses, as their goods were destroyed under the bulldozers.
Most affected vendors are from Darfur, with a few from Atbara and nearby villages. The demolition’s impact extended to a part of the prayer area, used by drivers, shop owners, and passengers for worship and basic services.
“Ali,” a public transport driver, said that drivers have also been affected by the removal of kiosks, as these provided services like credit transfers and mobile phone top-ups, as well as small restaurants where they used to have their snacks such as sandwiches and juices. The drivers’ rest area was also demolished, which had some local zeer for quenching the thirst of passersby without exception.
Kassala: Heavy Rains Worsen Displacement Crisis
Fleeing the horrors of war, displaced individuals in Kassala State, eastern Sudan, face various adversities, including the loss of tents and essential daily needs due to heavy rains exacerbating their plight. Since the start of the rainy season, the state has experienced significant increases in rainfall due to climate changes.
On Friday morning, July 26, heavy rains, described by locals as the worst in years, began. The city regularly experiences flooding from the major river, Al-Gash, which bisects the city and originates from the Eritrean highlands.
The Kassala Youth Emergency Room appealed through social media for citizens, volunteers, official bodies, and organizations to urgently supply the sheltering houses with water extraction equipment. The Emergency Room has seen increased activity following the third wave of displacement due to recent events in Sinnar State. Around 300 families have arrived at the Kassala Industrial School sheltering house, which due to its low location has become vulnerable to flooding and rainwater accumulation.
Despite the rising number of arrivals, sheltering houses continue to receive more, with organizations trying to provide minimum aid through the Red Crescent, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sudanese organizations like Sadakat, and local voluntary initiatives like the Kassala Youth Emergency Room, High School Youth Association, and various volunteers.
Flooding and water damage have affected the entire city, with 1,708 homes impacted, affecting 9,106 people. In West Kassala rural areas, 192 homes were damaged, affecting 1,072 people. In the Aruma rural area, 135 homes were destroyed, affecting 690 people, with 7 injuries and 3 deaths reported. In Kassala rural areas, 62 homes were damaged, affecting 325 people, resulting in 5 deaths. According to the meteorological department in Kassala, the city recorded 118 mm of rainfall, with 74 mm in West Kassala and 95 mm in Wadi Sharifai, among the highest levels in years. These floods present a significant challenge for the region, requiring urgent intervention from relevant authorities.
Ad-Dweim: Autumn of Hunger and Pain in Isolated City
In the city of Ad-Dweim, where daily life intertwines with the ongoing tragedies of war, the residents are suffering from relentless repercussions. Autumn, which usually brings greenery and fertility, has this year become a symbol of road blockages and the city’s isolation from the rest of the country. Amid this chaos, citizens struggle to survive in the face of a harsh reality.
The residents of Ad-Dweim are experiencing dire conditions due to the ongoing war and its exacerbating effects, alongside the autumn season, which makes life more difficult due to the disruption of national roads connecting them to other states in the country. The city and its rural areas have witnessed a horrific decline in all aspects of life, including economic, living, health, and personal and public security.
Ad-Dweim locality, part of White Nile State, is home to nearly a quarter of its population, which exceeds half a million people. The city has received around 40,000 displaced people due to the war from Khartoum, Gezira, and Kordofan. The locality has contact points with war zones in the eastern White Nile region and the northwestern borders, where the city of Halba experienced an attack by the RSF, resulting in the death of several citizens.
Ad-Dweim market is the largest shopping center in northern White Nile State, attracting traders and citizens to buy and sell goods regularly twice a week, on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The primary suppliers of agricultural and livestock products are hundreds of villages and towns around the city west of White Nile up to the borders of North Kordofan, in addition to vegetable and fruit products from West Al-Jazirah and food products from the towns of Al-Managil, Al-Kereimit, and their surroundings.
Due to the security situation resulting from the war, the city has witnessed an unprecedented rise in the prices of goods and commodities. Since the RSF took control of Wad Madani city at the end of 2023, which is the main supplier for Ad-Dweim market, prices have surged. The price hike intensified after the RSF seized Jabal Moya, cutting the last remaining road connecting White Nile State to the eastern states of Sudan where the ports are located, causing a halt in fuel supplies and a rise in its prices. The state government has increased the price of diesel by 100%, with diesel now costing 23,000 pounds at fuel stations and 50,000 pounds on the parallel market, leading to higher transportation costs for goods and transportation. Prices in Ad-Dweim market have reached astronomical figures; despite Ad-Dweim being a sorghum-producing area, the price of a sack of millet has reached a minimum of 90,000 pounds, a sack of wheat 120,000 pounds, a 20 kg sack of rice 140,000 pounds, a 50 kg sack of sugar 143,000 pounds, and a sack of onions 145,000 pounds.
Ad-Dweim Hospital, a general teaching hospital affiliated with the Ministry of Health, provides diagnostic and therapeutic services to tens of thousands of thousands of patients from the city and surrounding villages on both banks of the White Nile. The hospital also serves members of the regular forces as a medical unit for the northern White Nile region and parts of the western Al-Jazirah region. Despite the significant pressure on the hospital, it lacks many essential components for performing its role effectively.
Notable deficiencies include the human resources; the hospital has specialists in the four main areas: internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, and pediatrics. It also has specialists in areas like ophthalmology and urology on a weekly referral clinic basis. In terms of technical equipment and devices, the hospital lacks CT scan and MRI machines, and there is a shortage of medicine provided by the Ministry of Health and donor organizations. The hospital relies on contracts with private companies, which are the main suppliers of medicine for the entire locality and neighbouring localities.
Ad-Dweim is under the control of the SAF, with the 18th Division headquartered there, and is subject to emergency laws. Markets are closed from 6 PM to 6 AM, and a curfew is in place from 8 PM. Violations of the emergency orders carry fines of up to 1 billion Sudanese pounds for shops and 300,000 pounds for individuals. There are raids and personal inspections, and some foreigners, mostly from South Sudan, have been deported or are still detained.
El-Daein: Agricultural season with unprecedented challenges
Despite being less affected by military conflicts compared to its neighbours in Darfur and western Sudan in general, East Darfur State, particularly its capital El-Daein, faces catastrophic conditions comparable to those in the most affected areas. The state, which experienced some aerial sorties and bombardments in late February this year, is suffering from a comprehensive crisis on all fronts.
Since the withdrawal of the 20th Division from its bases on November 21 of the previous year, the third military base seized by the RSF in Darfur, the state has witnessed relative stability. However, this stability has not prevented the escalation of economic and humanitarian crises, especially with the onset of the autumn season, which is a crucial time for agriculture in the state.
El-Daein, located on the border with South Sudan, faces serious threats due to heavy rains and floods that have cut off vital roads. These disruptions directly affect the ability of the state’s residents to meet their basic needs and provide health services. The main routes supplying the state across the South Sudan border, the desert road through North Darfur from Libya, and the land route through Bahar Al-Arab locality, have all been closed due to rains and security disturbances, causing significant transportation difficulties.
These challenges have led to a sharp rise in commodity prices; the price of a Malwa measure of millet, a staple food in the state, is 10,000 pounds, a Malwa measure of sorghum 8,000 pounds, and a Malwa measure of wheat 9,000 pounds. Prices for cooking oil (36-pound container) have reached 47,000 pounds, a sack of onions 140,000 pounds, and imported sugar 150,000 pounds (3,000 pounds per kilo). A sack of imported wheat flour (25 kg) costs 55,000 pounds.
The agricultural season in El-Daein has faced unprecedented challenges, with a reduction in the number of workers in this vital sector due to military mobilization and displacement from conflict-affected areas. Farmer (A.M.) describes the situation, saying that the aforementioned reasons have led to a significant increase in farming costs, with the cost of plowing one feddan, done using animals, rising to 40,000 pounds, double the cost compared to previous seasons.
Regarding ground peanut prices, the price of a ton of shelled ground peanuts has reached 750,000 pounds, the highest for the production area, while a ton of raw ground peanuts is 500,000 pounds. Seed prices have also seen noticeable increases, with a sack of 30-mellow cowpeas at 90,000 pounds, and a sack of millet at 200,000 pounds, an unprecedented increase in the state. Amid these challenges, meat prices have remained relatively stable compared to other Sudanese states, with a kilo of lamb at 8,000 pounds and a kilo of beef at 7,000 pounds, the lowest in the country, due to a halt in livestock exports because of the war.
As for the security situation during the agricultural period, it is currently stable. Local administration coordinates with the RSF to secure roads leading to agricultural areas within the state. However, there are no guarantees against potential disruptions, especially with the approaching harvest time.
Medical sources in East Darfur State report a severe shortage of medicines and frequent interruptions in vaccine supplies provided by the federal Ministry of Health from Port Sudan via the northern state, exacerbating the health situation. The state faces a widespread prevalence of malaria and conjunctivitis, with a complete lack of mosquito control measures, contributing to disease spread. Additionally, the state lacks several major humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF, WFP, and WHO, increasing the burden on residents and displaced people.
Nevertheless, some international and national organizations continue their efforts, including: CARE International, ALIGHT, CRS, World Vision, Nido Organization (National Initiative for Development), and Al-Manar National Organization.
El-Daein has experienced waves of displacement since the outbreak of the Darfur civil war in 2003, leading to a large influx of displaced people who settled in the city, increasing its area and population density. In the current war, the city has become a refuge and transit point for those fleeing the consequences of the war in Nyala, Al-Fashir, and El-Geneina. There are 10 sheltering houses for displaced people in El-Daein, housing people from various parts of Darfur.
Local initiatives such as El-Daein Emergency Room and the Youth Initiative for the Country are providing voluntary support through central kitchens, educational programs, and distributing aid supported by organizations and benefactors, helping to cover the needs of the sheltering houses.
El-Daein General Hospital operates with its available resources and has a dialysis center, but suffers from continuous interruptions in solutions. The newborn nursery is functioning well, but the hospital in general suffers from shortages in some surgical and obstetric staff and a shortage of nursing staff.
