SUDAN- A tragic incident unfolded as a civilian Antonov An-26 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in eastern Sudan, resulting in the loss of nine lives, including four military personnel on board.
The crash occurred amidst the escalating conflict that has plagued the northeastern African nation for the past 100 days, with no signs of abating as of July 24.
Antonov An-26 Crash killed 9 in Sudan
The military confirmed that a child miraculously survived the crash late Sunday in Port Sudan, a city on the Red Sea. Port Sudan has so far been spared from the intense war between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to the military’s statement, the ill-fated Antonov plane crashed shortly after departing from the city’s airport, attributing the cause to a technical failure. However, no further details were provided regarding the specifics of the technical issue.
Among the deceased was Al-Taher Abdel-Rahman, the secretary of Finance Minister Gebreil Ibrahim, as confirmed by the Minister through social media, expressing his grief for losing his employee.
Sudan has been grappling with chaos since mid-April, when long-standing tensions between the military and the RSF erupted into open warfare in the capital, Khartoum, and other regions.
The ensuing fighting has transformed urban areas, including Khartoum, into battlegrounds, with Darfur witnessing some of the most severe episodes of violence, often taking the form of ethnic clashes.
Grim Toll on Lives and Infrastructure
The protracted clashes have resulted in a grim death toll, with over 3,000 fatalities and more than 6,000 people wounded, as Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim stated in televised remarks last month.
However, many believe the actual casualty count to be much higher, as reported by doctors and activists.
The conflict has caused mass displacement within Sudan, with more than 2.6 million people forced to flee their homes to find safety within its borders. Additionally, over 750,000 individuals sought refuge in neighboring countries, according to the U.N. migration agency.
The ongoing conflict has significantly disrupted Sudan’s aspirations of achieving a fragile transition to democracy. After a popular uprising led to the removal of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, the country began its path toward democracy.
However, a coup orchestrated by the military and RSF in October 2021 derailed this progress.
Various humanitarian organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE International, have called for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of essential goods and services to those trapped in the conflict.
Additionally, they urge the provision of funds to meet the growing humanitarian needs of the Sudanese population affected by the war.
Long-Stalled Peace Talks
Efforts to establish a ceasefire through talks between the military and the RSF in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah have repeatedly failed. The talks, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States, have not yet yielded tangible results in halting the hostilities.
To find a way out of the ongoing conflict and revive the derailed transition to democracy, pro-democracy leaders held a two-day meeting in Cairo, Egypt. This meeting marked the first gathering of Sudanese politicians since the outbreak of the war.
With the situation in Sudan worsening, humanitarian groups warn that the entire region could face destabilization if the crisis is not effectively addressed.
The world is urged not to turn a blind eye to Sudan’s plight, and international diplomatic efforts are urged to have a tangible impact on the civilians caught in the crossfire.
As Sudan’s conflict enters its 100th day, the urgency for a lasting ceasefire and humanitarian support remains paramount. The hopes of restoring a democratic transition hang in the balance, making the need for resolution even more pressing.
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