United Nations aid chief Antonio Guterres calls warring sides in Sudan to implement a three-day ceasefire marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday to allow trapped civilians to escape and access medical treatment, food and other essential supplies.
In separate interviews earlier with Al Jazeera, the leaders of the rival forces refused to negotiate with each other, as fighting continued for a sixth day in Sudan.
Reporting from Khartoum, Al Jazeera’s Haitham Uweit said “a sense of calm prevails” in the capital after a warplane was heard bombing several sites.
“Everyone is waiting to see if the two warring parties will declare a new truce because of Eid,” he said.
“A sad feeling dominates the Sudanese people, who receive Eid in this atmosphere. There are no manifestations of welcoming Eid in light of the mass flight of people of Khartoum. Usually, the Sudanese visit the neighbouring villages in a celebration of Eid, but now, they go there in sad circumstances.”
“Hospitals need urgent support. Most hospitals in Khartoum are no longer functioning and several hospitals have been bombed and shot at. Others have run out of fuel and cannot function. Those still open are crowded with injured people and running out of medicine and supplies. They don’t even have enough bandages,” Elnour said.
“Lots of injured people can’t even reach hospital as the streets are too dangerous as the fighting spreads into more residential areas. We urgently need the parties to the conflict to agree safe routes to evacuate injured people and enable aid agencies to support people.”
