KHARTOUM: The death toll from the ongoing clashes in Sudan has reached 604 people, including civilians, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The figures were released on Tuesday as representatives from the warring parties engage in talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at resolving the conflict.
The WHO spokesperson, Tarik Jasarevic, reported that over 5,100 individuals have been wounded in connection with the fighting. The Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate had previously stated on Monday that the number of fatalities had reached 487.
The conflict erupted on April 15 after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The fighting has transformed urban areas into battlefields and resulted in the displacement of nearly 700,000 people, in addition to the 3.7 million who were already displaced within the country before the conflict began, as reported by the UN migration agency.
Sudan peace talks to continue
The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that talks between delegations from both warring sides were expected to continue for a few more days in Jeddah.
The ongoing talks are part of a diplomatic initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia and the United States in an effort to bring an end to the fighting.
Gen. Burhan, in an interview with Egyptian TV channel Al-Qahira Al-Akhbariya on Monday, accused the RSF of using residential neighborhoods as military bases and civilians as human shields.
He insisted that the RSF must withdraw all their troops from the capital, Khartoum, before any truce agreement can be reached.
Burhan stated, “If this is not achieved, there will be no point in going to Saudi Arabia, or engaging in any negotiations. We won’t go ahead with any initiative that does not bring back normalcy and ensure the safety of our citizens.” The RSF has yet to respond to Burhan’s statement.
The talks in Saudi Arabia hold hope for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has resulted in a significant loss of life and a large-scale displacement of the population.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging both parties to work towards a peaceful solution that ensures the safety and well-being of Sudanese citizens.
