Roma, 3 Nov. (askanews) – Following the news of capture of the city of el-Fasher, in North Darfur, after a siege that lasted 500 daysthere is great concern for the over 260 thousand people trapped in the city with growing risk of atrocities and ethnic violence. From Emergency comes the testimony of Matteo D’Alonzo, program director of the NGO in Sudan.
The situation today in Sudan
“In recent days, dramatic news has arrived from el-Fasher who, after months of siege, fell into the hands of the Rapid Support Forces – tells – The testimonies that reach us speak of widespread violence, executions, looting and thousands of people trapped without water, food or healthcare. It is a tragedy within the tragedy of a conflict that has now lasted for over two years.”
Currently 30 million people in Sudan, out of 60 million inhabitants, are in need of humanitarian aid. Half are children.
“Emergency is present in southern Darfur, in Nyala, with a pediatric hospital with inpatient treatment. Here too the situation remains very serious – continues D’Alonzo – Since the beginning of the war the city has been tormented by violence, lack of electricity, scarcity of clean water and food. In our pediatric center every day we see many children, many of whom are malnourished or with pathologies aggravated by living conditions. Each hospitalization tells how deep the humanitarian crisis is that Sudan is facing.”
Even in the capital Khartoum, which was reconquered by the government army (SAF) in April, the situation remains tense. Here Emergency, which remained for the entire duration of the conflict even during the months of siege, is present with the Salam Center for cardiac surgery and a clinic with a pediatric department.
“In recent days the airport, which was close to reopening, was again bombed by drones – explains D’Alonzo – we heard news of the capture of the city of Barra, which is about four hours’ drive from the westernmost area of the city of Khartoum. All this fuels the fear that the war could spread further and bring the country back, just as we were hoping for some sign of truce. In Port Sudan, however, in these two years hundreds of thousands of fleeing refugees have flocked and we have also seen this in the high number of visits to our pediatric hospital. In recent months, even there, where the war had never arrived, severe drone attacks have occurred.”
“Guaranteeing free healthcare also means protecting people’s dignity and remembering this is important that behind the numbers and statistics there are real lives that cannot be forgotten,” concludes D’Alonzo.
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