Port -Sudan drum after a week of attacks

A massive increase in the cost of water is only one of the consequences of the Red Sea Aerial Attacks Week.

After being regarded as a relatively safe shelter from a devastating civil war in Sudan, a port -bombing is now experiencing the days of bombing by the Military Fast Support Group (RSF).

After six days of attacks, drone smoke is still rising from three fuel depots. Rescue groups gather around the destroyed areas, but they are struggling to ignite fires.

The conflict, which began as a struggle between the leaders of the RSF and the army more than two years ago, created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world and forced more than 12 million people from their homes.

One of those who escaped to Port Sudan is a 26-year-old mutash, who did not want his second name to be released for security reasons.

The BBC spoke to him after he waited for the clock to make the water supplier.

Life’s goods became scarce. Explosions in the fuel depot left a port -barture without a diesel used to feed the pumps that remove the groundwater.

Mutamas said the BBC that while the water supply a day cost him 2000 pounds of Sudan (3.30 dollars; 2.50 pounds) a week ago, he is now charged five times more.

This leaves it and seven other members of his family without much water for cooking, cleaning and bathing.

“We will not be able to afford soon,” he said, explaining that he was receiving money from the purchase and sale of major goods on the market.

Water is not the only problem in the port -Sudan.

Daily life returns to normal, markets and shops open, but there are crowds of cars outside urban gasoline stations when people are desperately waiting for fuel.

“I can take five hours to get gasoline,” said Mutasim.

This is a situation with which many Sudanese have encountered before, but not in this city.

Until last week, Port Sudan was one of the few places in the country, which was considered protected from the worst civil war.

“We came here two years ago with Omdurman,” said Mutasam, citing the city sitting on the other side of the Nile River from the capital, Khartum.

The family cost the whole savings – $ 3,000 (2250 pounds) – to create in a new place.

“We were forced to leave our home on RSF, so it was relieved to come here. Life began to return to normal.”

“We thought about moving because it is no longer safe, but it is so expensive – and where are we going?”

Over the past two weeks, the port -barture has been experiencing darkens that have deteriorated the latest attacks.

“My aunt over 70 years old, she fights warmth and humidity because there is no electricity at night,” Mutasim said.

“We can’t sleep.”

Hava Mustafa, a teacher from El Genens in Darfur, in the west of the country, also sought asylum in Port Sudan.

For two years she has lived with her four children in the shelter for displaced people. She said the attacks this week left her “life in fear.”

“The drones came to us, and we returned to the state of war and lack of security,” she said the BBC.

“The sounds of drones and anti-aircraft missiles remind me of the early days of the El Genein war.”

Hava lives without a husband who could not leave his home because of the deterioration of the safety situation. Now she is responsible for her family.

“I do not know where to go when everything worsened in the port. I planned to go to one of the neighboring countries, but it seems that this dream will no longer come true.”

Another person who lives in the city, Mariam ATA, told the BBC that “life has changed completely.”

“We are fighting to handle it,” she said. “Fear is constant.”

Ever since the Sudan Civil War began in 2023, humanitarian agencies depended on the port -bartop as a gateway to bring help, from its port and a single functional international airport.

It was used by organizations such as the UN World Food Program to provide food assistance.

“Port Sudan is our main humanitarian center,” says Lenny Kinclya, a WFP Sudan press.

“In March, we were distributed by almost 20,000 metric tons of food, and I would say that it was definitely more than half that went through the port -bartop,” she said the BBC.

WFP said there is now a famine in 10 regions of the country and another 17 risk.

Currently, many assistance agencies are concerned, these attacks can block the stream of assistance, which further worsen the humanitarian situation.

“I think it will harshly restrain the supply of rescue food and medical rescue, which risks further deterioration of the already critical situation,” said Shashwat Saraf, director of the Norwegian refugee council, BBC.

He added that while the agencies would look for other routes to the country, it would be difficult.

At night in the city is quiet.

Before the attacks, people would gather on the coast, and some watch football at local cafes. But the obscure of electricity left the city in the dark, and the residents choose to stay home for security reasons.