Queues at petrol stations, bakeries, ATMs ahead of Sudan President’s visit to Kassala

Halfa El Jadeeda in Kassala state is witnessing an ongoing bread, fuel, and liquidity shortage, with long queues at petrol stations, bakeries, and ATMs ahead of a planned visit by Sudan’s President Al Bashir to the state today.

Residents of Halfa El Jadeeda told Radio Dabanga that they have to stand in long queues starting at 3 am in front of the bakeries to obtain a limited amount of bread, while the fuel stations are witnessing lines of vehicles for more than two days to get diesel and petrol.

They pointed as well to the continued shortage of cash at banks and ATMs. The sources said that the state government provided quantities of flour and fuel for the bakeries and petrol stations to avoid queues, to coincide with the planned visit of President Al Bashir today.

Large quantities of fuel have been provided for the owners of lorries and buses allocated to bring residents from the countryside to attend the speech of Al Bashir.

South Kordofan

While the government claims it has resolved the economic crisis that led to the outbreak of demonstrations nationwide, a number of people in South Kordofan confirmed continuing shortages of fuel, bread, liquidity, and a further deterioration of services.

Residents of Delling told Radio Dabanga that they are all suffering from food, water and medicines crises, in addition to the bread, fuel, and liquidity shortages.

A number of traders in Delling in South Kordofan said that the lack of liquidity has paralysed the commercial sector and caused stagnation in the markets. They said they find difficulty withdrawing their savings from banks.

El Gedaref

In eastern Sudan, residents of Um Khanjar in the centre of El Gedaref complained of damage to their sorghum, sesame, and millet crops that were reportedly left in the open at the collection point of the Zakat (Muslim alms) Chamber.

They criticised the Zakat Chamber for neglecting the grain, destined for the poor and the needy. They said that the Zakat Chamber was successful in collecting the crops but failed to secure them, and called for comprehensive changes in the Zakat Chamber mamangement, and the dismissal of a number of employees.