Damazin, August 18 (Darfur24)
The Sudanese army bombed a vital bridge linking Qaysan locality with Damazin in Blue Nile State, residents said Monday, in an apparent attempt to prevent the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from advancing toward the regional capital.
The RSF, backed by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, seized control of Qaysan locality on August 11.
Residents told Darfur24 that the army bombed the Khor Tamat Bridge on Saturday, disrupting a major route connecting Qaysan with Damazin.
The bridge is a key passage for civilians, goods and humanitarian supplies, particularly during the rainy season. Residents said people from Bakuri, Amura and surrounding villages relied on it to reach markets, hospitals and other essential services in Damazin.
Its destruction has isolated several communities and made it difficult for humanitarian teams and ambulances to reach affected areas. The bridge site is located about 100 to 120 kilometers east of Damazin.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 5,355 people, or 1,071 families, were displaced from Qaysan town and several surrounding villages between August 12 and 15 due to deteriorating security.
IOM said the displaced sought refuge in other parts of Qaysan locality as well as in Al-Rusayris and Wad Al-Mahi localities.
The Civil Society Initiative said displacement was continuing in eastern Qaysan, with residents of Adasi and neighboring villages crossing by boat toward Kambal on the eastern bank of Wad Al-Mahi.
It warned that civilians were making the crossing despite high water levels, heavy rains and strong winds, putting their lives at risk.