83 Dead, 1126 Injured in Army-Rapid Support Forces Gun Battle in Sudan
Sudan is experiencing major tension as conflict between the Army and the Rapid Support Force, a paramilitary group, turn violent. Reports of armed conflict are flooding in from multiple locations across the region, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently announced that 83 people have lost their lives as a result, with a further 1,126 individuals having been injured. The most serious situations appear to be unfolding in the Khartoum area.
The WHO has issued a statement calling upon conflicting parties to allow healthcare services to be delivered impartially, ensuring unrestricted access to all hospitals and medical facilities for those that have been injured in the conflict. As a result of the ongoing violence, healthcare workers and patients are currently struggling to access hospitals and vital medical supplies.
The dispute between the army and the Rapid Support Force appears to have been brewing for some time, with disagreements over military security reform causing tensions to escalate in recent months. The original reforms included provisions for the full integration of the Rapid Support Force into the army, a move that is now the subject of the ongoing conflict; a resolution to the dispute has yet to be found.
In response to the escalating situation, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called upon all Turkish citizens living in the Sudanese region to remain indoors and to seek assistance from the Turkish Embassy in Khartoum and the Consular Call Center should an emergency situation arise. The Ministry has also noted that the situation is being monitored closely, and further developments are likely to be reported over the coming days. At present, travel in the area is not recommended due to the potential for further conflict.
