Suspected poisoning kills dozens in besieged Sudanese town
November 8, 2024 (AL-HILALIYA) – A civilian group reported on Friday that at least 40 people have died from suspected poisoning in the past 24 hours in Al-Hilaliya, a town in eastern Gezira state under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This brings the total number of deaths to 166 since the siege began, including 15 people killed by gunfire.
The RSF, a paramilitary group, has been blockading Al-Hilaliya, located approximately 70 kilometres northeast of Wad Madani, for several weeks. After seizing control of the town, the RSF has been accused of widespread abuses against civilians.
Images shared by activists show residents taking shelter in a mosque, facing dire conditions with limited access to food and under constant threat of attack.
The Gezira Conference, a civilian organization monitoring human rights violations in the state, released a statement detailing the escalating crisis. “40 deaths from poisoning were recorded in the past 24 hours,” the statement said, “bringing the total number of deaths to 166, including 15 by direct fire from the RSF, and 151 who died from poisoning.”
The statement accused the RSF of destroying and looting essential infrastructure, including the town’s dialysis centre, which serves 31 surrounding villages, and the main hospital. The RSF has also reportedly destroyed ten water wells, 18 grain mills, 10 pharmacies, and vital electrical infrastructure.
The siege of Al-Hilaliya is believed to be retaliation for the defection of the RSF commander in Gezira state, Abu Aqla Kikil, to the army in October. The RSF has since launched attacks on other towns in the region, causing widespread displacement and death.
The Gezira Conference reported that the RSF is demanding one million Sudanese pounds (about $450) per person to allow evacuations from Al-Hilaliya, where over 30,000 people remain trapped.
The RSF claims that a high-level delegation has been sent to Al-Hilaliya to assess the health situation and investigate the deaths, which it attributes to a suspected cholera outbreak.
A field commander in the RSF, Muk Abid Abu Shotal, addressed residents, denying responsibility for the violations and blaming “outlaws” and “criminals” for the atrocities. He claimed these groups were affiliated with the former regime and former prisoners.
Abu Shotal denied that the RSF was holding civilians hostage or preventing them from leaving and asserted that the RSF was prepared to secure roads for safe passage.
He accused former RSF commander Abu Aqla Kikil of smuggling essential medicines, including cholera treatments, intravenous fluids, and dialysis medications, after defecting to the army last month.