Darfur faces rising transport costs, consumer prices

The transportation crisis in Darfur has renewed during the rainy season with costs of passenger tickets and delivery services rising. People in large areas of South and West Darfur are living in a state of isolation. Such areas have suffered a disruption in the supply of goods. Even for travel between the largest towns, the costs of transportation increased sharply. The prices of transporting one ton from Omdurman to Nyala jumped from 300 pounds to 450 pounds, and the transportation of a ton from Omdurman to El Geneina jumped from 400 to 550 pounds. The owners of bus agencies and cargo offices attributed the rise in prices to heavy rainfall in most parts of the region. As to prices within Darfur, the costs of a passenger ticket from Nyala to Rehab El Bardi has increased from 20 to 40 pounds, and Nyala from to Ed Daein the price has risen from 32 pounds to 160 pounds. Many citizens complained about the high ticket prices and accused the owners of offices and dealers of using the rainy season as an excuse to raise prices.