Fighting has erupted once again in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, as a new military offensive intensifies, plunging the country into deeper turmoil. The latest clashes come as a cholera outbreak ravages the war-torn nation, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The Sudanese military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, launched the offensive in an attempt to reclaim key areas held by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. Heavy artillery, airstrikes, and gunfire have turned Khartoum into a battleground, with reports of widespread destruction and civilian casualties. Residential neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, while residents continue to flee for their lives.
Despite international calls for peace, both sides remain locked in a bitter struggle for control of the capital. The conflict, which began in April 2023 following a breakdown in power-sharing talks between military factions, has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
As the fighting escalates, Sudan is also grappling with a rapidly spreading cholera outbreak. The unsanitary conditions in camps for displaced people, combined with a lack of clean water and healthcare, have allowed the disease to spread at an alarming rate. Humanitarian organizations warn that the outbreak could soon spiral out of control, with thousands more at risk.
“The situation in Khartoum is becoming more and more unbearable by the day,” said a spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO). “With the ongoing violence, it’s nearly impossible to provide medical aid to those affected by cholera or other illnesses.”
The cholera outbreak adds a deadly new dimension to the conflict, as the weakened healthcare system struggles to cope with both the war and the disease. Hospitals, already overwhelmed by casualties from the fighting, are ill-equipped to handle the rising number of cholera patients.
International efforts to broker peace and deliver aid have so far failed to stop the violence or alleviate the suffering. The United Nations and several foreign governments have called for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need, but fighting continues to rage on.
As Sudan faces the dual crises of war and disease, its people are left to endure a situation that shows no signs of improving. The future of the country hangs in the balance, with millions caught in the crossfire of a conflict that has devastated a once-promising nation.