Serious Humanitarian Repercussions of the Disruption of Communications Networks in Sudan

Fears are increasing on the serious humanitarian, health and economic repercussions that resulted from the absence of about 95 ٪؜of Sudan’s regions from telecommunications and Internet coverage for the fourth day in a row.

On Sunday, the services of the three telecommunications companies “Sudani”, “MTN” and “Zain shut down in most areas of Sudan , that caused almost complete paralysis of banking activities , some tax and customs collection services in the country’s ports.

Sudanese Embassies abroad also announced the cessation of parts of their consular services.

Amid mutual accusations from both sides of the fighting – the SAF and the Rapid Support  RSF the responsibility for shutting down the network.

Since the outbreak of war between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces RSF in mid-April, many infrastructure facilities and public buildings have been exposed to massive destruction due to aerial and ground bombardments by both sides of the fighting.

 Four civil organizations warned on Thursday that the interruption of communications services would increase the suffering of the population, particularly among those stranded in combat zones.

Hadrin Organization, the Sudanese American Medical Society, and the Horn of Africa Women’s Initiative considered that cutting off communications networks threatens the lives of civilians who depend almost entirely on banking applications and other solutions provided by telecommunications companies in their daily dealings.

It also impedes the arrival of humanitarian aid, that threatens the lives of millions of civilians in different parts of the country.

On its part; Emergency committees that provide health and humanitarian services and aid to those stuck in combat zones in Khartoum said that cutting off communications networks disrupted the delivery of life-saving medicines, children food and important items that women use to maintain their reproductive and physical health.

It explained, involvement of youth in localities in the process of collecting aid and distributing it to those affected by forming emergency room initiatives; however, a few days ago, there was a fluctuation in Internet and communications services, and then the Internet and communications were completely cut off from all parts of the country, causing difficulty in communication and complicating the humanitarian situation in combat zones.” Where thousands of citizens remained detained.