A tentative ceasefire between the competing Rapid Support Forces paramilitary and the Sudanese army was extended for another 72 hours, although the combat has not yet stopped.
Both military sides accused one another of breaking the ceasefire. Although the agreement has reduced the intensity of the conflict in some areas, violence still forces civilians to escape.
Witnesses described ongoing clashes and fighter jets circling over areas of Khartoum and Omdurman, the capital’s twin city across the Nile.
The Sudanese police confirmed an army statement by stating that the Central Reserve Police, a paramilitary squad, had been deployed throughout Khartoum to “protect citizens’ properties” from looting.
Sudan’s airspace would be off-limits to all save humanitarian and evacuation flights until May 13, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Since fighting broke out on April 15, more than 500 people have died and tens of thousands have fled.
According to the head of the UN, the “rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis” is the reason the UN’s top humanitarian official is travelling to the area.
According to the kingdom, more than 5,000 passengers have boarded Saudi Arabian ships and travelled across the Red Sea from Port Sudan to safety.
Currently residing in Khartoum, Sudanese journalist Mohamed Alamin Ahmed told Al Jazeera that there were a variety of causes for individuals to leave the city.
“People are fleeing Khartoum not only because of the humanitarian situation, the bombs that have fallen on civilian homes, the random airstrikes and shelling, but also because civilians are being looted in the streets and even inside of their homes,” he said.
After airlifting more than 2,000 people out of the nation from an airstrip close to Khartoum, the United Kingdom announced it will organise a second evacuation flight from Port Sudan on Monday.
The Canadian government stated that “dangerous conditions” have forced it to stop its evacuation planes.
To discuss the unrest in Sudan, Egypt has convened a meeting of its permanent delegates to the Arab League for Monday.
According to two US officials, a navy ship was despatched to evacuate its citizens.
According to Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the US State Department, about 1,000 Americans have been evacuated. He also reported that a government convoy had arrived in Port Sudan to transport US nationals and other qualified individuals to Saudi Arabia.
