DANGER, DESPAIR THE ORDER OF THE DAY

Mahmoud’s world has shrunk to his small apartment in east Khartoum. With no electricity for most of the past month, he swelters in the summer heat. Fearful of looters, he leaves his phone behind when he goes out for food. His greatest concern is the possibility of artillery shells hitting his home.

Over 1.3 million people have fled their homes since the conflict began, but Mahmoud and others are trapped.

Millions of others remain stuck in Khartoum and its sister cities. They struggle daily for food, water, and electricity while avoiding fighters and criminals in the streets.

Access to food, water, and electricity becomes

increasingly difficult. Thankfully, Bankak, the banking app of the Bank of Khartoum, still works, allowing electronic money transfers.

Using Bankak, Mahmoud pays the shop owner who supplies him with canned goods. His former employer also deposits money into his Bankak account every few weeks, helping him afford food.

The immediate danger comes from armed men and looters. Waleed, another resident, witnessed RSF fighters tormenting a passerby, wielding weapons and treating him like a puppet. Escaping the city is a distant dream for many like him.

Some residents, like Tana Tusafi, a single mother from Ethiopia who sells tea, stay and work to provide for their families. But danger lurks.

Disappearances, detentions, and sexual violence are rife. Fatima’s brother was detained and interrogated for eight days by the RSF.

Residents adapt to survive. Some store owners operate from their homes to avoid looters. Limited bakeries require pre-registration for customers to get bread. Hospitals have closed, but community groups like the Resistance Committees deliver medical aid.