Electricity outage shuts-down businesses in South Kordofan capital

Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan has witnessed a complete electricity outage, lack of bread and surge of prices. The crisis continues to bite in other parts of Sudan as well.

An employee told Radio Dabanga from Kadugli that the power outage has led to a shut-down of his printing and photocopying business, adding that the city is still reliant on drinking water supplied by carts.

Another resident of Kadugli said the city has seen a lack of bread for days, where most of the bakeries have been closed because of the lack of flour. The bread crisis also has caused most restaurants to close.

Port Sudan

Port Sudan in Sudan’s Red Sea state has been experiencing a severe diesel crisis for a week.

Journalist Osman Hashim told Radio Dabanga of the long queues of diesel vehicles, including trucks, in front of fuel stations for hours.

He explained that the queues of vehicles have obstructed traffic in the city near fuel stations of the main roads.

He expected stifling of the crisis of transport in the coming days in the event it is not resolved.

Minister of Industry

The Minister of Industry Dr Mousa Karama attributed the bread crisis in Khartoum and the states to the lack of fuel and electricity and their impact on productivity.

The minister’s statement came during a hearing held by the Industry and Investment Committee in the parliament on the bread and fuel crisis in the country.

The secretary-general of the union of bakeries Badreldin El Jalal attributed the crisis of mills to the ongoing electricity cuts.

The State Minister of Oil Saadeldin Bashir stated that the crisis has seen breakthrough to large extent.

He confirmed availability of gas and diesel for bakeries in the capital and the states.

Salah Ibrahim, head of the Pharmacists’ Union, warned that about 400 medicines would be unavailable during the coming period.

He attributed the shortage of medicines to the lack of foreign currency and the devaluation of the Sudanese Pound.

He explained that the rise in prices of local medicines is due to the rise of prices of raw materials imported from abroad.

He proposed a portfolio to provide medicine with the support of the state.