In brief
Following a series of drone strikes in Port Sudan, once viewed as a haven for civilians escaping conflict, fears grow as civilian facilities become targets in the worsening Sudanese civil war.
As tensions in Sudan escalate amid ongoing civil war, the city of Port Sudan—previously a refuge for fleeing civilians—has been rocked by a new wave of violence. Reports confirm that drone strikes launched by the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) struck critical locations including a fuel depot and an upscale hotel in the port city, solidifying fears of further destabilization and chaos.Witnesses observed significant black smoke rising from the sites targeted on Tuesday, triggering mass panic among residents and leading to near-empty streets. The attacks mark a concerning development for a city that had previously remained relatively untouched by the intense conflict that has seen approximately 15,000 lives lost and nearly 13 million people displaced since its inception in 2023. Khalid Ali Aleisir, Sudan's minister of information, condemned the attacks on social media, labeling them as “criminal acts” and expressing confidence in the resilience of the Sudanese populace. “Our steadfast Sudanese people will remain unbreakable,” Aleisir asserted amid the turmoil surrounding them.The R.S.F. has yet to claim responsibility for this latest onslaught, which also involved drone attacks targeting a military airbase over the weekend. Local resident Mohamed Ahmed, who had previously fled from Khartoum, expressed his fear that violence continues to shift frighteningly close to his new home. “They are destroying the country’s infrastructure, and eventually, only a destroyed and empty country will remain,” Ahmed lamented.Thousands of civilians, previously seeking safety in Port Sudan, now find themselves again confronting dangers as humanitarian efforts face significant challenges. The African Union has voiced its dismay regarding the escalation, calling it a dire threat to both civilian lives and humanitarian access in the region. As aid groups continue to navigate limited access to war-affected zones, Port Sudan stands at a critical juncture, teetering between hope and despair amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
