STORY: High rents in safe zones in Sudan pose persistent problem for war refugees
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 18, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 19, 2024
LENGTH: 0:03:22
LOCATION: OMDURMAN, Sudan
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Sudanese people fleeing war moving their furniture to a new house
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): KAWTHAR AL-KHAZIN, Displaced Sudanese
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ABDUL-RAHMAN AWAD, Government employee
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): FAISAL SHAMS-EDDIN, Real-estate broker

STORYLINE:

With the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan and the increasing number of displaced persons, high rents at safe areas continue to be a persistent problem for those fleeing the war.

The war, which broke out on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has forced millions of Sudanese to flee combat zones towards safe cities. It worsened the housing crisis as rents hit record highs.

In the Karari locality of Omdurman city, north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, high rents have become a significant obstacle for those wishing to stay in the area.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): KAWTHAR AL-KHAZIN, Displaced Sudanese
"We are suffering from the problem of rents. The rents are very high, while the brokers put high commissions that reach half of the monthly rent."

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the war increased the unemployment rate in Sudan from 32.14 percent in 2022 to 47.2 percent in 2024, while a study by the American Food Policy Institute predicted that Sudan would lose 5 million jobs as a result of the war.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ABDUL-RAHMAN AWAD, Government employee
"There is shortage of income sources. Many people are unemployed, completely without a monthly source of income, with no monthly source of income. A person may find a daily job today, but there is no guarantee of work tomorrow."

Some real-estate brokers attributed the high rents to the economic conditions and the repercussions of the war.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): FAISAL SHAMS-EDDIN, Real-estate broker
"Due to the economic conditions from which everyone is currently suffering, there is an increase in real estate rents. These conditions have forced property owners to raise rents, and it is undeniable that everyone is affected by the economic conditions of the war."

The violent conflict between the SAF and the RSF has resulted in at least 16,650 deaths and displaced millions of people, according to UN estimates.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Omdurman, Sudan.
(XHTV)