Residents to evacuate Khartoum Bahri neighbourhood amid heavy shelling

September 18, 2024 (KHARTOUM BAHRI) – A local committee in the Al-Mazad South neighbourhood of Khartoum Bahri ordered the evacuation of remaining residents on Thursday, citing deteriorating security conditions amid intensified shelling.

The neighbourhood, one of the oldest in the city of Bahri, has been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the conflict began and has been subjected to continuous bombardment by the Sudanese army.

The committee’s evacuation order came after two residents, including a relative of the late Sudanese artist Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, were killed in recent shelling. The committee cited indiscriminate shelling, the spread of disease, and the lack of basic services as reasons for the evacuation.

“Based on this, it was decided to evacuate the residents of the area immediately for your safety,” the committee said in a statement, urging residents to leave as soon as possible.

The committee said it would provide food aid and health care to those evacuating and asked families to coordinate their departure with designated officials.

The situation in Al-Mazad South and surrounding neighbourhoods has worsened in recent days, with both the army and the RSF engaged in heavy shelling. Residents report a lack of food and basic supplies, with most shops closed or looted.

Sources in the area told Sudan Tribune that RSF soldiers have set up checkpoints and are restricting movement in and out of the city. There have also been reports of looting and violence by gangs along the Bahri-Haj Youssef roads.

The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the army and the RSF, has killed thousands and displaced millions. The fighting has also caused a humanitarian crisis, with widespread shortages of food, water, and medicine.