STORY: One year of war in Sudan, thousands killed, millions displaced amid imminent famine
SHOOTING TIME: April 14, 2024
DATELINE: April 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:15
LOCATION: Khartoum
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of a water cart
2. various of water container
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NAMARIQ SULEIMAN, Sudanese citizen
4. various of a girl fetching water
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ISRA ADAM, Sudanese citizen
6. various of Mohamed Ali Mohamed cooking
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOHAMED ALI MOHAMED, Sudanese citizen
8. various of Mohamed Ali Mohamed cooking

STORYLINE:

The deadly war in Sudan, leaving thousands of people dead and millions of others displaced, is entering its second year amid repeated warnings of an imminent famine threatening to kill those who escaped death from bullets.
   
Since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out on April 15, 2023, 14,790 fatalities have been recorded, while the number of people displaced inside and outside of Sudan has reached 8.2 million, a report by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) showed Sunday.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NAMARIQ SULEIMAN, Sudanese citizen
"We never anticipated the war enduring for such an extended period. Despite enduring disruptions to our water and electricity supply, we exhibit patience and resilience, steadfastly remaining in our homes rather than seeking refuge elsewhere."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ISRA ADAM, Sudanese citizen
"The situation here is hopeless. There is no electricity and no water. To get water, we are forced to go for long distances."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOHAMED ALI MOHAMED, Sudanese citizen
"There is no water, no electricity, and no means of communication. We wonder how can a human being live under such circumstances. I feel like we are living in the Stone Age or even before the Stone Age."

Starvation is looming as fighting rages on in Sudan.

According to the UN, half of Sudan's population -- some 25 million people -- need humanitarian assistance and protection, with nearly 18 million people facing acute food insecurity.

The Food and Agriculture Organization has warned of a worsening food security crisis in Sudan, urging warring parties to halt hostilities and allow for the access of humanitarian aid.
   
However, the war so far shows no sign of ending, as none of the warring parties seems to be willing to silence the sounds of bullets or sit at the negotiation table.
   
In a speech on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, SAF's General Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan stressed that the war would continue until the RSF is "eliminated."
   
Meanwhile, the RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also in a speech on the Eid al-Fitr occasion, said the only option was "to achieve victory" and congratulated his forces on what he said were "great victories" in central Sudan's Gezira and Sinnar states.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Khartoum.
(XHTV)