Ad-Damazin, October 23 (Darfur 24)
The cities of Ad-Damazin and Er-Roseires have been plunged into darkness following a power outage caused by damage to a main electricity transformer in a drone strike.
The blackout has triggered a severe drinking water crisis, forcing residents to leave the city center in search of water from wells and solar-powered stations in outlying neighborhoods.
A resident of the Al-Zubair neighborhood in Damazin, who requested anonymity, told Darfur24 that long queues at water points highlight the extent of people’s suffering, particularly among the sick, elderly, and children.
Other sources said residents of neighborhoods near the Blue Nile have resorted to using river water for drinking, raising fears of disease outbreaks and drowning incidents, especially among children, due to the river’s high water levels.
They added that several health centers relying on electricity to power medical equipment have suspended operations, further worsening the humanitarian situation.
“The continued power outage will deepen the crisis, as most water stations depend on electricity while only a few are solar-powered, and the water produced is insufficient for daily needs,” one source said.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Sudan Electricity Company confirmed that the Roseires and Sennar power stations were targeted by drones on Tuesday, resulting in a complete outage in both cities. The company said one of the main transformers was severely damaged and that maintenance work could take several days.