Airstrikes on the Outskirts of Khartoum; Food Supplies in Sudan Running Low

The outskirts of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, were targeted by airstrikes on the night of Friday, May 19, and the early morning of Saturday, May 20. These clashes, which have created a humanitarian crisis for citizens and displaced over one million people, have entered their sixth week. The battle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces known as 'Rapid Support' has ravaged the region's order and law, with both sides blaming each other. Meanwhile, food, cash, and essential supplies are rapidly dwindling. Eyewitnesses reported airstrikes in southern Omdurman and northern Bahri, two cities across the Nile that form Sudan's 'triple capital.' They stated that some of these attacks occurred near the state television station in Omdurman. Eyewitnesses in Khartoum described the situation as 'relatively calm,' though sporadic gunfire could still be heard. These clashes, which began on April 15, have displaced approximately 1.1 million people internally or forced them into neighboring countries. According to the World Health Organization, around 705 people have been killed and at least 5,287 injured. Peace talks in Jeddah, supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia, have also been unproductive, with both sides accusing each other of violating several ceasefire agreements. Sanaa Hassan, a 33-year-old citizen from Omdurman, told Reuters in a phone call, 'This morning we faced heavy artillery fire, and the whole house was shaking, and everyone was lying under their beds.' The 'Rapid Support' forces have established themselves in residential areas and are regularly targeted by airstrikes from the armed forces. In recent days, ground fighting has also escalated in the Darfur region, particularly in the cities of Nyala and Zalingei. Both sides accused each other in statements released on Friday of initiating the conflict in Nyala, one of the largest cities in the country, which had been relatively calm for weeks due to a local-mediated ceasefire agreement. Local activists told Reuters that nearly 30 people have been killed in the past two days. The war in Khartoum began after disputes over plans to integrate the 'Rapid Support' forces into the army under an international agreement and over future command hierarchy. The U.S. Agency for International Development announced over $100 million in aid to Sudan and host countries for fleeing Sudanese. The conflict continues in the capital of Sudan; the army conducted airstrikes on the capital. The United Nations has called for $3 billion in aid for 25 million people in Sudan. The ongoing conflicts in Sudan come ahead of a new round of ceasefire negotiations in Jeddah. The number of 'internally displaced persons' worldwide has reached 71 million.