Ongoing violations in Sudan put yet another ceasefire at risk
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Residents continue to report sporadic airstrikes and artillery fire although the ceasefire has entered its second day.
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A man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023 (Reuters)
Fighting in Sudan eased on Wednesday, the second full day of a fragile ceasefire that has allowed beleaguered civilians to leave, even as they wait for safe aid corridors and escape routes.
Sporadic airstrikes and artillery fire have still boomed across the capital, residents said as quoted by AFP, however, US and Saudi observers said "fighting in Khartoum appeared to be less intense" since the one-week humanitarian pause brought into force late Monday.
Washington and Riyadh, which mediated the ceasefire between the forces of two rival generals, however, pointed to reports "indicating that both sides violated the agreement."
Nonetheless, they emphasized that preparations were being made "to deliver lifesaving assistance" to the people of Sudan, who have been subjected to more than five weeks of fighting that has claimed over 1,800 lives, according to updated figures released Wednesday by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).
Despite the deaths of some of their employees, looting of their facilities, and the inability of most hospitals to function in combat zones, aid organizations had already reportedly ramped up their delivery.
Humanitarians have sought safe corridors so assistance can reach the 25 million Sudanese -- half the population -- who the UN says need aid.
The clashes erupted on April 15, sparking frantic mass evacuations of thousands of foreigners and forcing more than 1.3 million people to flee their homes internally and across borders.
The chaos has left millions hunkering down in their homes to find shelters from the bullets and roaming looters amidst power blackouts and shortages of water, food, medicines, and other staples.
Residents in various districts of the capital on Wednesday reported columns of black smoke rising as some fighting resumed.
Fighting between Sudan's rival generals has displaced over one million people within the country since it began on April 15, as per the International Organization for Migration.
According to the UN, another 319,000 individuals have sought asylum in neighboring nations. Around 132,000 refugees have landed in Egypt, 80,000 in Chad, and 69,000 in South Sudan, the UN agency added.
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