Cease-fire fails to hold in Sudan as toll mounts

The vicious battle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for control over the country entered the sixth day on Thursday as the death toll rose to more than 300.

While making a statement on the situation in Sudan, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that over 3,000 people have been injured in the fighting. He condemned the loss of life, especially attacks on civilians and healthcare facilities.

"Reports of forces occupying health facilities in Sudan are deeply concerning. Attacks on healthcare are a flagrant violation of international law and the right to health. The lack of safe access to electricity, food, water, personnel and the diminishing medical supplies are making it nearly impossible for health facilities to function at a time when there are thousands injured and in need of urgent care," Tedros said.

On Wednesday, both Sudan's military as well as the RSF separately announced a new 24-hour cease-fire starting at 6 pm local time but fighting continued past the deadline.

The International Committee of the Red Cross also called for unimpeded access in Sudan, warning that the fighting was taking a disastrous toll. Patrick Youssef, Africa regional director for the ICRC, said on Wednesday that it is highly distressing to hear reports of civilian casualties and bodies lying in the streets of Sudan's capital Khartoum.

Top priority

"Our urgent priority is to get medical assistance to hospitals and try to make repairs to their water and power lines so they can treat the wounded. But without the necessary security guarantees required to move around safely, we are still unable to deliver aid and to fully assess the humanitarian needs," Youssef said in a statement.

Osama Abubakr Osman, communication and dissemination director of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, said the ongoing conflict may cause Sudan's health system to collapse, resulting in catastrophic consequences.

Earlier, China's embassy in Khartoum issued an urgent message, advising Chinese citizens and companies to stay on high alert and avoid going outdoors.

The fighting, which broke out on Saturday, came after weeks of tension between the army and the RSF. The two sides seized power as allies in 2021 but tensions persisted over the proposed integration of the RSF into the military.