On Tuesday morning, Sudan’s Red Sea city of Port Sudan was struck by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking the second such assault in recent days. Military officials confirmed the attack, with local videos showing thick plumes of smoke over the port city. The RSF targeted multiple sites, including fuel storage tanks, escalating the ongoing conflict that has already led to thousands of casualties. Sudan’s Information Minister has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of arming the RSF, further complicating the region’s already dire humanitarian situation.
RSF Targets Port Sudan in Coordinated Attack
The attack on Port Sudan early Tuesday morning was confirmed by military sources, though the full extent of the damage has not yet been publicly disclosed. Reports from eyewitnesses and online footage show large amounts of smoke rising from key areas of the city, with the RSF specifically targeting fuel storage tanks in the southern zone of the port. While Sudanese authorities have yet to release casualty numbers, the strike has led to disruptions across the city, including the cancellation of several flights. As of now, Port Sudan, which has seen a surge in civilian refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict, has become a flashpoint in the Sudanese war.
UAE Accused of Arming RSF: Sudan’s Government Responds
In a statement made shortly after the attack, Sudan’s Information Minister Khalid Aleiser directly accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying weapons to the RSF, fueling their ongoing assault on the country. Aleiser visited the southern zone of Port Sudan to inspect the damage and stated that the UAE’s actions had exacerbated the already volatile situation in Sudan. He vowed that Sudan would continue to resist the RSF militarily.
The UAE, on the other hand, quickly denied the accusations, urging Sudan to de-escalate and enter negotiations instead of escalating the conflict further. On Monday, the UAE’s foreign ministry had condemned the recent RSF attacks on Port Sudan and the eastern city of Kassala, calling them clear violations of international humanitarian law. The UAE’s comments were made amidst growing international concern about the rising tensions and human suffering in Sudan.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as Violence Disrupts Evacuation Routes
The RSF’s latest assault has deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis, making it even more difficult for civilians to escape the violence. Flight cancellations from Cairo’s airport, with at least three flights to Port Sudan being scrapped, reflect the growing challenges in evacuation efforts. The satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC further confirmed that significant portions of the Sudan National Petroleum Corporation’s fuel tanks were destroyed in the attack.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, triggered by a power struggle between Sudan’s army and the RSF, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated rapidly. While Port Sudan had remained one of the few areas of relative safety for fleeing civilians, the latest RSF attack has thrown that refuge into uncertainty.
Rising Death Toll and Worsening Famine Conditions
The ongoing violence has led to catastrophic loss of life and displacement. Estimates suggest that between 24,000 and 150,000 people have died as a result of the fighting, while an estimated 13 million people have been displaced within Sudan. The crisis has also forced around 4 million individuals to flee the country, seeking refuge in neighboring regions.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCHR) has warned that famine is now impacting about 50% of Sudan’s population, which amounts to 25 million people. A report from the IPC Famine Review Committee has confirmed that five regions are already facing famine, and the situation could worsen, with additional areas at risk of famine by May 2025.
International Community Urged to Act
As violence intensifies and the humanitarian crisis deepens, calls for international intervention have grown louder. The UN and other aid organizations have urged both the Sudanese government and the RSF to prioritize peace talks and cease hostilities. With both the death toll and number of displaced persons rising daily, global pressure is mounting on all parties involved to take steps toward halting the violence and providing critical humanitarian assistance.
Sudan’s future remains uncertain as the conflict between the army and RSF continues. While the international community watches closely, hopes for a diplomatic resolution seem distant, and the suffering of Sudanese civilians continues to escalate.
The ongoing violence in Sudan is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of civil conflict on both human lives and infrastructure. As the RSF continues to strike vital locations like Port Sudan, the risk of further destabilization grows. The accusations of foreign involvement, particularly by the UAE, complicate efforts to bring the violence to an end. With millions already displaced and famine looming, the need for international intervention has never been more urgent.
