Thousands of civilians have already left the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and other countries have begun evacuating their citizens, the BBC writes.
On the morning of Wednesday, the 19th of April, witnesses told about people leaving the city both in cars and on foot, where shootings and explosions could be heard. Japanese and Tanzanian officials are considering a plan of action to evacuate their citizens.
The chaos follows the collapse of a planned ceasefire on Tuesday. The country’s army and paramilitary forces had agreed to a 24-hour truce to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and residents to evacuate, but firing resumed on Tuesday evening just minutes after the announced ceasefire began.
On Wednesday, a decision on a cease-fire was made again, but the firing continued even during that time.
Civilians have no idea what is going on, while others blame both sides. Khartoum-based journalist Muhammed Alamin told the BBC that people think this is a war against them. He also pointed out that one of the obstacles to the observance of the ceasefire is the jagged arrangement of the warring groups, and the soldiers are fighting in different places with limited means of communication. Currently, the fighting consists mainly of shootings, and there has been no bombing of the city.
Witnesses have reported heavily armed paramilitary fighters patrolling the city, while army fighter jets are firing on targets allegedly linked to the paramilitary fighters. Fuel shortages and the absence of public transport force many who want to leave the city to do so on foot, while others try to reach central and western Sudan where their families live in trucks.
Lootings by paramilitary fighters have been reported in the city.
One resident told the BBC that his phone and money had been taken, and others said the militants were going from house to house demanding food and water.
As the fighting continues, many countries have announced the evacuation of their citizens from Sudan. Japan has informed that the army plane is ready for flight and the evacuation of 60 Japanese is being considered. Tanzania plans to evacuate 210 of its citizens from Sudan. Meanwhile, the United States has announced that no government-organized evacuation operation is currently planned.
The exact number of dead and injured is unknown, but on Tuesday the Sudanese Medical Association reported at least 174 civilians killed. In a joint statement released Wednesday, the US, the European Union, Britain and 12 other countries reported 270 civilian deaths. Experts say that the real figure is much higher, considering that many of the wounded do not get to the hospitals, which are also being shelled.
Humanitarian aid has been virtually paralyzed and central power was reportedly cut in many places as early as at the beginning of conflict on weekend. Concerns about the availability of food and water are also increasing.
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