Acute fuel shortage in Kabkabiya, North Darfur

Kabkabiya locality in North Darfur is facing an acute fuel crisis, owing to the insecurity in the region. Owners of vehicles, grain mills, and farmlands face great difficulties in obtaining fuel. They are forced to spend their days from the early morning onwards waiting in long queues in front of the petrol stations to get a permit from the security services in order to obtain fuel. The price of a tin of diesel at the black market has risen to SDG200 ($35). Speaking to Radio Dabanga, multiple sources reported that only two out of four fuel stations are operating during three days a week. The owners of farmlands have expressed their concern that they may lose their crops as they need fuel for the water pumps. Owners of commercial vehicles and grain mills fear a large damage to their interests. They urged the authorities to resolve the problem as soon as possible. File photo: A lorry in Darfur at a fuel selling point (archive Radio Dabanga) Related:Insecurity leads to drinking water shortage in North Darfur (26 March 2014)Lack of fuel paralyses transport in South Darfur’s capital (12 March 2014)