Darfur 24/Agencies
Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, denounced the continued expansion of fighting in Sudan. He said that the clashes that took place on Friday outside Wad Madani, which is also a humanitarian center, threaten tens of thousands of civilians who were previously displaced due to the conflict.
With 8 months having passed since the outbreak of war in Sudan, Griffiths said that the time has come to end it. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that all humanitarian field missions within Al-Jazira State, which includes the city of Wad Madani, have stopped until further notice.
The office indicated that Al-Jazira State, which is known as the bread basket of Sudan, is an important center for humanitarian operations carried out by the United Nations. The state hosts more than half a million displaced people who have fled due to fighting since April 15.
Wad Madani is 136 kilometers southeast of the capital, Khartoum. It was reported that shops and markets were closed in the city due to fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, and a main bridge was also partially closed.