Sudan: ‘There Are Blasts, There Is Heavy Gunfire’

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Sunday that fighting in densely populated areas of Sudan is endangering civilians. The ICRC’s appeal joins those of many humanitarian organizations urging all parties to the conflict to take immediate action to protect non‑combatants.

Germain Mwehu, the ICRC spokesperson in Khartoum, told VOA’s English‑to‑Africa Services “South Sudan in Focus” that there are grave concerns over the use of explosives in populated areas. “There are blasts, there is heavy gunfire anytime,” he said, adding that the violence is not confined to the capital but is also affecting other cities across the country. The situation remains tense, with ongoing clashes between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces in several regions.

“It’s a very horrifying situation for the civilian population. They can’t move. It’s very dangerous for everyone to move, including humanitarian organizations,” Mwehu explained. Alfonso Verdu Perez, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan, said the conflict has escalated, particularly in urban areas, leading to a high number of civilian casualties. As of Sunday, 59 civilians have been killed and nearly 700 injured, though humanitarian groups warn the death toll could rise.

The fighting is severely hampering aid efforts. “There are students who have been stuck in schools since yesterday morning, people stranded at the airport, market workers who cannot return home, and hospital patients who cannot receive visits from families or medical staff,” Mwehu said. Humanitarian organizations are unable to move within the cities to provide assistance.

The ICRC reiterated its commitment to helping civilians affected by the conflict but emphasized that without an end to the fighting, conditions will continue to deteriorate. “The civilian population is exposed. They are not spared,” Mwehu told VOA. He also noted that the fighting impacts refugees and internally displaced persons, including those from Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. With more than one million refugees already in Sudan, the humanitarian situation is already extremely difficult and is worsening as the conflict spreads.