The fighting threatens displaced persons and organizations suspending their work in Aljazeera state

Madani - Moatinoon
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday that fighting in the state of Al Jazeera, Sudans food basket, had led to the suspension of all humanitarian field missions in the state.

Clashes had erupted outside the state capital and threatened tens of thousands of civilians already displaced by the conflict.

Fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly forced shops and markets in Wade Madani to close, as well as partially close a head bridge.

The army prevented civilians from entering the city, which remained largely free from fighting on 15 April between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Eyewitnesses reported flying fighter jets into the citys airspace, drawing black smoke, while explosions were heard from northern sides.

The city of Wade Madani is the centre of the islands state, to which half a million people have been displaced according to United Nations figures.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have, since the past few months, set up checkpoints along the Khartoum-Wood civilian road after the State initially remained free from war.

The Blue Nile River passes through the state capital and is a critical hub for humanitarian operations.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths called for an end to fighting in the Sudan after eight months of war.