El Fasher, February 16(Darfur24)
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, is witnessing hike in food prices due to a severe shortage in supplies, with the Rapid Support Forces RSF continuing their siege of the city for the ninth consecutive month.
A number traders in El Fasher told Darfur24 that the storehouses have become completely empty in light of the impossibility of new goods arriving due to the tightening of blockade, especially from the western side, which is a main crossing to the towns of Tawila, Kabkabiya and Tina.
The trader in the livestock market south of El Fasher, Musa Muhammad Ibrahim, informed Darfur24 that food prices have are skyrocketing .
He pointed out that the price of a sack of lentils (25 kg) rose from 140,000 pounds to 160,000 pounds, the price of sugar (50 kg) from 280,000 pounds to 310,000 pounds, and a sack of onions from 220,000 pounds to 245,000 pounds.
He explained that the price of a box of pasta rose from 65,000 pounds to 75,000 pounds, the price of oil (36 pounds) from 75,000 pounds to 110,000 pounds, and a bag of flour (25 kg) from 110,000 pounds to 140,000 pounds.
For his part, activist and volunteer Al-Nour Mohammed attributed this increase in a statement to Darfur 24 to the lack of goods, the closure of most markets, and the lack of outlets for goods to reach the city, in addition to the burning of the Zamzam camp market for the displaced, which provided many food commodities for the residents of Al-Fasher.
He pointed out that the livestock market was completely closed after being subjected to continuous artillery shelling, which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries.
He stated that the Naivasha market in the Abshok camp for the displaced people north of Al-Fasher is now partially operating, amid fears of a recurrence of the artillery shelling that targeted it previously, in addition to damage to some shops within the neighborhoods.
He continued: “Under these conditions, the suffering of the people of El Fasher continues with the worsening economic crisis and lack of supplies, which increases the daily burdens on citizens who find it difficult to secure their basic needs, including a barrel of water, which has reached 5,000 pounds in some areas.” RSF are trying to control the Sixth Infantry Division in El Fasher as the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region, following the fall of divisions of Nyala, Zalingei, El Geneina and El Daein in 2023.