UN warns Sudan on 'edge of abyss' as battles spark exodus
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00:00 Smoke billows around Sudan's capital as fighting and airstrikes continued right up to the announcement
00:07 of a ceasefire. The three-day break in fighting, agreed between Sudan's army and the Rapid
00:12 Support Forces paramilitary, was mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States. Since
00:18 the conflict broke out, several ceasefires have quickly crumbled. The US Secretary of
00:23 State urged both sides to uphold the truce this time around.
00:27 "Good morning everyone. The Sudanese people are not giving up on their aspirations for
00:32 a secure, free and democratic future. Neither will we."
00:36 A third of Sudan's population needed aid before the conflict. Now, shortages of food,
00:42 water, power and medicine are acute. The Ahmed Qasem Dialysis Centre is the only one in Khartoum
00:48 still operating.
00:49 "We are very tired. We hope that God helps the country and protects it. We want the state
00:56 to find a solution for people who need hospitals."
01:01 Tens of thousands of locals have fled to neighbouring Egypt, Chad and South Sudan. Intisar Mohammed
01:07 El-Hajj has managed to cross the border into Egypt with her husband and three children.
01:13 "The hardest moment is thinking about leaving your country as you hear the sounds of explosions
01:19 and gunfire."
01:24 Several years ago, Sudan's main civilian party was ousted by the two generals who are now
01:28 facing off against one another. The party has welcomed the ceasefire, saying they hoped
01:33 it would allow for negotiations to resolve the conflict. The UN has warned that the alternative
01:38 would risk a catastrophe that could engulf the whole region.
01:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]