The Red Sea city, which had largely been spared the worst of the fighting, now finds itself in crisis after six consecutive days of bombardment. Thick black smoke still billows from three fuel depots struck in the assaults, with emergency crews struggling to contain fires that continue to burn.

The impact on daily life has been swift and severe. With fuel stores destroyed, there is no diesel to power the pumps that draw groundwater, the main source of water for Port Sudan’s residents. The resulting shortage has caused prices to skyrocket, putting clean water out of reach for many.

“This city used to be a lifeline,” said one local resident. “Now even water feels like a luxury.”

The conflict, which erupted more than two years ago as a bitter rivalry between the Sudanese army and the RSF, has since spiralled into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. More than 12 million people have been displaced, and basic services in many areas have collapsed entirely.

Port Sudan had been a vital logistical hub for aid efforts and a temporary haven for displaced families. But the latest attacks mark a dangerous shift, as the RSF expands its reach and intensifies its campaign.

Aid agencies are warning that the fallout could be disastrous. If fuel shortages persist, water access and humanitarian operations across eastern Sudan may come to a standstill.

“This is a tipping point,” one humanitarian worker noted. “Without fuel, not only do the pumps stop, the entire support network for millions of people begins to break down.”

--ChannelAfrica--