The passport administration in Al Qadarif state, Sudan, is experiencing severe overcrowding and a substantial influx of people following the opening of the Al-Qalabat border crossing with Ethiopia.
According to the Sudanese newspaper “Al-Taghyeer” in a Facebook post, the state is witnessing a significant displacement from Al Gezira state and its capital city, Wad Madani, which was attacked by the Rapid Support Forces.
The newspaper noted that the Preliminary Committee of the Doctors’ Union has issued an urgent appeal to international humanitarian organizations for immediate intervention in Wad Madani and other areas of Al Gezira state. The situation has become catastrophic following the entry of the Rapid Support Forces.
The Rapid Support Forces announced last Monday that they had taken control of the city after about four days of battles with the army.
Since mid-April, the army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have been waging a war that has left more than 12,000 dead and over 6 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
The current Sudanese war, which started in mid-April 2023, marks a new phase in the country’s prolonged history of internal conflict. It erupted due to escalating tensions between the army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF commander General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, mainly over plans for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the army following the ousting of former ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. This conflict has had a devastating impact, resulting in over 12,000 deaths and nearly 6.8 million people being displaced, according to conservative estimates and United Nations data.
The international community, including the United Nations and the African Union, has been involved in various capacities, from peacekeeping efforts to humanitarian aid. However, the situation remains complex, and the path to sustainable peace in Sudan requires addressing the root causes and fostering reconciliation among its diverse population.