The Struggle in Al Fiteihab: Hunger and Fear in Sudan’s Frontline District
In the district of Al Fiteihab, situated in Omdurman, Sudan, residents are facing a harrowing battle between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Desperate for food, locals must navigate through RSF checkpoints and dodging artillery and sniper fire from both the RSF and the army.
Fear and uncertainty grip the community, with people reluctant to venture outside due to the constant threat of harassment and violence. One resident, Mahmoud Mohammed, recounted being robbed and beaten by RSF fighters while attempting to go to a market. His bloodied robe bore witness to the brutality he endured. Electrical and water infrastructure has been ravaged in the conflict, leaving residents without essential services, forcing many to drink untreated water from the Nile, leading to outbreaks of illnesses such as diarrhea and cholera.
In an attempt to alleviate the hunger plaguing the residents of Al Fiteihab, volunteers established soup kitchens at the onset of the war, serving basic meals like gruel, rice, and flatbread. However, dwindling supplies due to the RSF siege resulted in a reduction of meal provisions. The dedicated volunteers, part of the “emergency response rooms” network, risked their lives to feed and evacuate residents. Tragically, three volunteers lost their lives in the line of duty due to shelling and gunfire.
Following military advancements in late February, some relief has reached the area, with food supplies gradually making their way to the hungry population. The military and RSF alliance, which previously toppled the autocratic regime of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, descended into conflict over differing visions for the country’s governance. The RSF seized control of Khartoum and expanded their influence into Darfur, exacerbating the region’s long-standing conflict.
The ongoing war has unleashed a wave of ethnic violence in Darfur, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. The struggles faced by the residents of Al Fiteihab are emblematic of the larger turmoil gripping Sudan, underscoring the urgent need for peace and stability in the war-torn nation.