Siege and Food Shortages in Al-Shajara and Al-Hamadab Districts
Moatinoon
A number of resistance committees and coalitions in the state of Khartoum issued a statement yesterday, Saturday, regarding the humanitarian situation in the areas of Al-Shajara and Al-Hamadab, located in the vicinity of the military armored zone. These areas are currently under a severe siege from all directions.
The statement highlighted the suffering of the Al-Shajara and Al-Hamadab areas due to a critical shortage of food commodities, which has almost reached a point of complete scarcity. This situation is a result of the closure of commercial stores and the disruption of trade exchanges between Al-Shajara market and other markets. Traders have faced violations, including physical assault and looting of their belongings, preventing them from considering returning to supply the area with essential provisions. The statement also revealed instances of assault, intimidation, and looting against citizens who contemplate going to other markets. These citizens have been accused of being associated with military intelligence and threatened with death upon returning.
The statement further explained that the region has been experiencing a continuous three-month-long interruption of water and electricity. Internet and communication networks have been completely cut off. Medication and initial medical supplies are scarce, and life-saving drugs are unavailable. Additionally, the challenge of storing these supplies persists due to power outages. The statement indicated that all hospitals, health centers, and clinics are completely out of service. The situation is exacerbated by the absence of cooking gas and even the gas used in bakeries and ovens, resulting in a complete lack of bread.
The statement affirmed the ongoing battles around the armored forces perimeter. Shells continue to fall indiscriminately and persistently on citizens homes since the first day of the Rapid Support Forces attempts to seize armored vehicles. This has led to a significant number of injuries and deaths. The Rapid Support Forces continue to target mosques and homes, resulting in the death of 11 citizens in one day. All the injured are within the area, with no means available for their treatment or evacuation.
Its worth noting that the area is densely populated with residents from adjacent areas who were compelled to leave their homes by the Rapid Support Forces (Jabra, Lamasab, Yathrib, and others). Finding accommodations for them is challenging, and there is a lack of healthcare.
According to eyewitnesses, even at this moment, the area is witnessing the fall of shells from the rebel militias onto homes and the isolated region, making the lives of its residents extremely precarious.
The statement urgently called for the protection of civilians in these two areas and the preservation of their right to life. It demanded an immediate halt to the targeting of citizens and the provision of safe passages for them. It also called for opening safe corridors for medical personnel to treat the injured and provide necessary medications. Safe passages should also be established for national and international organizations to deliver humanitarian aid to citizens.
During the era of former President Omar al-Bashir, these two areas witnessed security tensions, sit-ins, and confrontations with security forces due to the dominance of armored forces over residential lands owned by citizens. These lands were sold as investments to the Sudanese military institution.
