South Kordofan, Darfur face fuel, water shortages

People in Abu Jubeiha in South Kordofan and in Darfur have complained of the rise of prices of basic commodities in the markets and medicines amid the continuation of the lack of affordable bread and fuel.

They told Radio Dabanga that the prices of basic commodities have witnessed significant increases compared to this month last year.

The price of a malwa (a bag of approximately three kilogrammes) of sorghum has risen from SDG70 ($1.47*) to SDG130 ($2.75). Meanwhile medicines against malaria now cost SDG250 ($5.25) and painkillers SDG30 ($0.60). This along with complaining about a lack of heart disease medicines in pharmacies in the town.

People in Abu Jubeiha told this station that queues in front of bakeries have not disappeared from view. “Bakeries operate with unsubsidised flour which has led to an increase in the number of breads, from eight to fourteen Sudanese Pounds,” a listener said. There are still queues of vehicles and people in front of fuel pumps as well.

Darfur

Also people in Sudan’s western Darfur region also renewed their complaints about the scarcity and lack of fuel. Not enough fuel is allocated to the traders.

In addition, farmers have complained that their crops, especially vegetables and fruits, are withering owing to the lack of fuel for the irrigation pumps.

Livestock owners in East Darfur told Radio Dabanga that the lack of fuel for water pumps has caused a water shortage and increased the suffering for their livestock.

Khartoum

Khartoum markets witnessed a new increase in the prices for food and basic consumer products. The price of a pound of sugar now ranges between SDG15 ($0.30) and SDG 20 ($0.40), and a pound of flour costs between SDG 60 ($1.26) and SDG 70 ($1.45).

In Khartoum, the price for a gallon of groundnut oil rose from SDG950 to SDG1050, a packet of soap went up from SDG 620 to SDG 680 and a pound of coffee rose from SDG 60 to SDG 80.

* As effective foreign exchange rates can vary widely in Sudan, Radio Dabanga bases all SDG currency conversions on the Market Makers Mechanism-determined daily US Dollar rate quoted by the Central Bank of Sudan (CboS).