Highlights: In Sudan, relative calm in the fighting allowed, at the end of this week, the delivery of medical equipment to Khartoum. The World Food Programme (WFP) also announced the arrival of food for the remaining residents of the capital. Anaesthesia supplies and antibiotics to treat people with gunshot wounds have also been transported by the ICRC from Port Sudan. Only seven hospitals are functioning. Most of them are occupied by armed men who use them for their wounded and as a military base.

In Sudan, relative calm in the fighting allowed, at the end of this week, the delivery of medical equipment to Khartoum, where the few hospitals still functioning were almost totally...

Sudan: humanitarian aid begins to arrive in Khartoum

In Sudan, relative calm in the fighting made it possible to deliver medical supplies to Khartoum at the end of this week, where the few remaining functioning hospitals were almost completely destitute. The World Food Programme (WFP) also announced the arrival of food for the remaining residents of the capital.

A woman stands outside a hospital in Khartoum, May 26, 2023. AFP--

Text by: RFI Follow

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A "lull" in the fighting and, overall, an "improvement in the security situation" in Khartoum: this was one of the promises of the mediators of the conflict at the Jeddah talks in Saudi Arabia. And so it is now a reality, Alyona Synenko, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), told RFI.

Humanitarian organizations had been waiting for this for a week since the signing last weekend of a truce between the warring parties, under the authority of Riyadh and Washington. "There have been agreements signed and the parties to the conflict have publicly expressed their willingness to ensure humanitarian access, which is obviously a very positive step," adds Alyona Synenko.

Sporadic fighting

WFP announced that a first convoy of food had reached Khartoum on Saturday. Aid had been delivered during the week to several provinces, including Darfur, but the capital was still too dangerous. Anaesthesia supplies and antibiotics to treat people with gunshot wounds have also been transported by the ICRC from Port Sudan to Khartoum, where only seven hospitals are functioning. Most of them are occupied by armed men who use them for their wounded and as a military base.

There is only talk of a lull, as sporadic fighting is still reported in various parts of the capital, especially at night. And a famous doctor from Omdurman, Dr. Alaa Aldeen Nogod, was arrested at his home on Sunday by men claiming to be from the army, without official explanation.

In any case, humanitarian organizations hope to be able to repeat this kind of delivery. "It's not with a single distribution that we're going to solve the problem. We want to continue to support the health system in areas that have been particularly affected by the fighting," concludes the spokesperson.

Sudan: humanitarian aid begins to arrive in Khartoum

Sudan: humanitarian aid begins to arrive in Khartoum

Sporadic fighting

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