Nyala, February 19 (Darfur24)
Large fires that broke out Tuesday evening in the town of Al-Malm in South Darfur State and the city of Um Dukhun in Central Darfur State caused extensive material losses, destroying a key market and dozens of homes.
In Al-Malm, about 120 kilometers north of Nyala, eyewitnesses said flames erupted in the eastern section of the local market, initially consuming shops built from locally sourced materials before rapidly spreading across the commercial area.
Hamed Mohamed Ishaq told Darfur24 that residents rushed to rescue merchandise, but the fire still caused significant destruction. He noted that community efforts eventually succeeded in containing the blaze before it reached nearby residential houses.
Trader Haj Omar estimated losses at more than 50 million Sudanese pounds, explaining that small traders were disproportionately affected due to the vulnerability of shops constructed from flammable materials.
He added that large quantities of essential goods, including sugar and flour, were destroyed, warning that the incident, coming just ahead of Ramadan, will intensify hardship for residents and traders alike.
Omar called for humanitarian support to the affected traders as the market, which serves as a vital economic center for Al-Malm and surrounding communities, including areas east of Jebel Marra.
In a separate incident, another fire broke out Tuesday evening in a residential neighborhood of Um Dukhun, a border town adjacent to Chad and the Central African Republic, destroying four residential blocks and more than 40 homes, according to local emergency responders and witnesses.
Ahmed Al-Doud, a resident, told Darfur24 that the cause of the fire remains unknown, but strong winds contributed to its rapid spread in the absence of firefighting equipment.
He noted that the city’s western district experienced a similar blaze two weeks earlier that destroyed more than 250 homes, leaving many families still without shelter.
The Um Dukhun emergency room appealed for urgent assistance from residents, diaspora communities, humanitarian agencies and authorities to support affected families.
In a statement published on its Facebook page, the emergency chamber expressed concern over repeated fires in the city and called on residents to exercise caution during the windy season, ensure cooking fires are extinguished, and keep fire-starting tools away from children.
Local initiatives have also proposed building kitchens with red bricks to reduce the likelihood of future fires.
Seasonal winds combined with the widespread use of highly flammable building materials such as straw continue to contribute to recurring fire incidents across towns in Darfur and Kordofan, exacerbating humanitarian challenges for already vulnerable communities.