Food and Medicine Shortages, Rising Prices: A Catastrophic Situation in Khartoum
Moatinoon
Khartoum is experiencing dire conditions due to the aftermath of the April 15 war, which has severely impacted the healthcare system. Many hospitals have gone out of service because of the military clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, leaving only a few small health centers overseen by emergency rooms. In addition to the deteriorating healthcare situation, Khartoum’s residents are facing severe food shortages and skyrocketing prices for consumer goods. These increases are partly due to checkpoints and roadblocks imposing exorbitant fees on traders, alongside already high prices in central markets.
Deteriorating Healthcare Situation
Khartoum is also grappling with worsening health conditions, especially due to environmental degradation during the rainy season, with the complete absence of government efforts to combat epidemics or remove the accumulated waste across the city since the war broke out.
According to a statement from Khartoums local emergency rooms on their Facebook page, the health crisis has worsened due to the outbreak of epidemics linked to the deteriorating environmental conditions. The statement revealed that the city is facing a critical and disastrous situation, with several deaths reported in recent weeks due to malaria, dengue fever, and waterborne diarrheal diseases.
The emergency room also announced an urgent need for IV solutions, malaria injections, some laboratory reagents, as well as fuel and solar energy to power health centers and alleviate citizens suffering, preventing a health catastrophe. The statement stressed that preventive measures, such as spraying campaigns to address post-rainfall waste, like stagnant water that serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and insects, are needed in addition to medicines and IV solutions.
Worsening Health Conditions in Jebel Aulia
The spread of malaria and fevers isn’t confined to Khartoum alone; it has also extended to the Jebel Aulia locality, affecting neighborhoods like Al-Kalakla East, Andalus, and others in southern Khartoum. No official reports of cholera symptoms have been recorded in the area.
“M.A.,” a resident of Andalus Block 3, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Mowatinoon that malaria and fever have spread widely in the neighborhood, affecting "most of the residents." He added, "So far, no cholera cases have been recorded."
In southern Khartoum, specifically in the South Belt area, dengue fever has spread according to the official statement of the South Belt Emergency Room on its Facebook page. The room reported a worrying spike in dengue fever cases across southern Khartoum and the South Belt.
A statement from the South Belt Emergency Room revealed that 95% of the medical staff at Bashayer Hospital—the only functioning hospital in the area—had been infected. Additionally, the room recorded 51 cases in one week and 100 cases among both citizens and medical staff during the same period. There were also reports of unregistered deaths from local sources.
The widespread infection among medical staff led to the closure of the operating room, lab, blood bank, and the emergency department, which shut down the following day.
The emergency rooms statement highlighted that the fever outbreak comes amidst rising prices for IV solutions, which now cost between 4,000 to 5,000 Sudanese pounds per unit, adding further burdens on citizens.
In another update posted on Saturday, September 21, on its official Facebook page, the South Belt Emergency Room reported 21 deaths among various age groups—most over the age of 50—from dengue fever in the Ad Hussein area, with 113 cases of infection. The room confirmed that the health situation is extremely critical due to the severe shortage of medicines in the area. The rooms medical office stated that 80% of medicines and IV solutions are unavailable, exacerbating the disaster and worsening the situation.
Living Situation in Khartoum
In addition to the health crisis, Khartoum is suffering from severe food shortages, soaring prices for essential goods, and a complete absence of humanitarian aid. The kitchens and soup kitchens run by some volunteers and emergency rooms are struggling to meet the needs of those affected by the war due to a cash crisis.
Shutdown of Relief Kitchens
Some kitchens, which had been providing relief to those affected by the war in Khartoum, have ceased operations due to a lack of funds. Three days ago, the "Qadah al-Nabi" initiative announced through member Mohammed Kandasha that it had temporarily suspended operations due to a depletion of funds and supplies.
Rising Prices for Essential Goods
A trader from the Barari Emergency Room reported that prices have skyrocketed in the Burri area and surrounding neighborhoods due to scarcity, increased transportation costs, and rising prices in central markets.
The Central Bureau of Statistics announced at the end of the week that inflation for August had risen to 218.18%, compared to 193.94% in July 2024.
Prices for essential goods soared in early August, as documented by citizen Mohammed Kandasha, who shared price listings on his Facebook page.
For instance, a 20 kg bag of rice now costs 90,000 Sudanese pounds, a 20 kg bag of lentils costs 90,000 pounds, a 50 kg bag of sugar costs 180,000 pounds, a 36-pound bottle of cooking oil costs 120,000 pounds, a kilogram of lamb costs 18,000 pounds, and a kilogram of beef costs 12,000 pounds.
A 25 kg bag of flour now costs 70,000 pounds, while a Mula (local measure) of Egyptian beans costs 20,000 pounds, lentils cost 15,000 pounds, and chickpeas cost 8,000 pounds. A pound of milk costs 8,000 pounds, a pound of coffee costs 12,000 pounds, and a pound of tea costs 8,000 pounds.
Attacks on Kitchens
Mohammed Adel, a member of the Jabra Emergency Room, told Mowatinoon that the residents of Khartoum are not only suffering from the deteriorating health and living conditions but also from repeated attacks by the Rapid Support Forces, which have forced some residents to flee their homes, especially in certain areas of Jabra.
The violations haven’t been limited to homes; kitchens and soup kitchens providing relief to war-affected citizens have also been targeted. Members of the Rapid Support Forces have attacked kitchens in Al Hilla Aljadida, Al-Jarif, and Burri, looting the food supplies.
Khartoum urgently needs intervention from international relief organizations to end the catastrophic situation and prevent famine. Warring parties must refrain from using hunger as a weapon and allow humanitarian aid to enter without imposing exorbitant fees and taxes on traders transporting goods to Khartoum.
