New air strikes disrupt Sudanese cease-fire

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting for a 13th day despite a US-brokered ceasefire. The army has agreed to talks in Juba, capital of neighbouring South Sudan, on extending the three-day truce which expires on Friday. At least 512 people have been killed and 4,193 wounded in the fighting, according to health ministry figures. Fighting has flared in the provinces, particularly in the war-torn western region of Darfur, with clashes between the army and the RSF raged for a second straight day in the West Darfur capital Geneina. The United Nations humanitarian agency had reported killings, looting and arson in Geneina, with an estimated 50,000 acutely malnourished children having nutrition support disrupted due to the fighting.

The heavy fighting has trapped many civilians in their homes, where they have endured severe shortages of food, water and electricity. The UN has warned that as many as 270,000 people could flee into Sudan's poorer neighbours South Sudan and Chad. Other Sudanese have sought refuge in Egypt and Ethiopia, but both entail long and potentially dangerous journeys overland. Foreign governments have taken advantage of the fragile truce to organise road convoys, aircraft and ships to evacuate their citizens, but some have warned their evacuation efforts are dependent on the lull in fighting holding. War crimes suspect Ahmed Haroun has escaped from the high security Kober prison where top aides of ousted president Omar al-Bashir were held, sparking fears of the involvement of Bashir loyalists in the ongoing fighting. The army said the ousted president was not among those who escaped but had been moved to a military hospital before the fighting erupted.