Power, water cuts, fuel shortages hinder commerce in Nyala, South Darfur

The inhabitants of Nyala, capital of South Darfur, are complaining about the instability of water and electricity supplies. The city suffers from frequent cuts, so that the price of two tins of water has risen to SDG1.5 ($0.35). The price of a gallon of petrol has risen from SDG50 ($11.30) to SDG60 ($13.58) in the city, according to sources close to Radio Dabanga. This price increase has had a knock-on effect on public transport fares. Long lines have again begun to form at filling stations, with vehicle owners often spending the night at the pumps in the hope of obtaining a gallon of fuel. In a memorandum, the Chamber of Wholesale Traders in South Darfur has called on the State government to resolve the problem of the railway. Apparently, there has been an accumulation of goods since last March. They also called for the determining of a two-month window period for convoys of vehicles and trucks, pointing out that an increased force will be necessary for the convoys’ protection. The Chamber’s memorandum stressed the importance of the free passage of convoys during the rainy season. It also underlined the need for establishing effective security measures to counter the current “security chaos in the city of Nyala”.Nyala often faces power cuts and shortage of petrol, which affects various sectors in the local economy. Its citizens told Radio Dabanga in March that their living situation had become “intolerable”.  File photo: Vehicles queue for petrol in Nyala Related: SLA-MM ‘capture fuel convoy bound for Nyala’ in Darfur (3 June 2013)Gas, goods prices reach ‘unprecedented’ high in S Darfur (20 March 2013) Residents ‘angry’ due to 3-day power cuts in Nyala, S. Darfur (15 February 2013)