Port Sudan Adaptation Exam
Fadia Saleh – Ahmad El Nashadar
A year and several months after the outbreak of the war, the country is experiencing catastrophic economic conditions, affecting Sudanese men and women who are working tirelessly to secure their livelihood and seek a dignified life. They are inventing diverse ways to adapt to the current economic crisis, varying according to priorities, environmental conditions, and cultural and economic situations. Before the outbreak of the war on April 15, the country was already suffering from structural problems in service sectors. Due to the current war, these sectors are experiencing systematic destruction. In Port Sudan, which has become the administrative capital after the war spread from Khartoum to other states, the paradox of adaptation lies in implementing austerity policies and reducing essential spending on food, health, and education to survive. So what is left for them? And what does life mean without these essentials?
According to economic expert Hussam El-Din Ismail, severe damage has been inflicted on the service sector, which previously represented 53% of the Gross National Product. Regarding the agricultural sector, Sudan has lost about 70% of its arable land, with wheat cultivation decreasing by 50% and 70% in the lands planted with millet and sesame.
Regarding inflation, the exchange rate has quadrupled since the beginning of the war until now, with the Sudanese pound falling from 570 pounds to approximately 2000 pounds per dollar. The impact of inflation is evident in the prices of goods and transportation, and when not reflected in prices, it shows in the quantity and quality of products.
Urban Poverty in the Administrative Capital
As a result of the economic collapse, Port Sudan is witnessing extremely high prices for goods, a noticeable deterioration in health conditions, and continuous power outages. In contrast, Port Sudan’s large market is experiencing heavy congestion and a significant increase in the number of vendors, seeking new sources of income. Additionally, there is tight security control; the market is completely closed every Saturday, all activities stop, and movement is prohibited. According to city gossip, the purpose of the closure is to “clean the market.” Passersby in Port Sudan’s market encounter a large number of men, women, and children of various ages seeking financial assistance to support their families and pay medical bills among other needs. Begging has become a common feature of urban poverty, widespread in the new administrative capital.
Amid economic crises and the absence of state agencies and social protection policies, families are innovating means to adapt and survive, varying according to their economic conditions and sources of income.
Reducing Food Consumption
Okeir, who lives in Port Sudan and works at the Revolution Bakery in Block 15, complains about the difficulty of the situation and rising prices, which have directly affected their household diet. The price of a loaf of bread has risen from 75 pounds to 125 pounds, prompting his family to consume less bread than before. Okeir says, “We consume half the amount of bread we used to.” They sometimes have to reduce the number of meals and extend the time between each meal, so “if we have dinner, we must delay breakfast until noon and skip one meal, settling for the minimal in the available meals.”
Bettoul, a tea vendor near East College, follows a different approach to adaptation regarding food. Due to rising prices, her family has had to eliminate some high-priced items, such as meat, which has risen from 7,000 pounds per kilo to 14,000 pounds. Economic expert Hussam El-Din describes adaptation as “an attempt to increase revenues and force a reduction in expenses,” and its effect is evident in the quality of life and food. He notes that people these days turn to lentils, kisra (a type of bread), “um reqiq” (thin bread), and other low-quality foods. “Although they were not previously eating well, the situation compared to before the war indicates a decline in the amount and quality of food. According to the World Food and Agriculture Organization’s classification, there is coarse food that spreads in war zones, such as ‘um reqiq,’ made of water with a little okra, without meat or vegetables or fruits, and no good protein in any form.”
Reducing Spending on Health and Education
The prices of medicines have sharply increased in the city, as have the costs of medical consultations. For example, at the Ansar Al-Sunna clinic in Block 15, the cost of a general medicine consultation has risen from 1,000 pounds to 5,000 pounds, and the price of intravenous fluids, which are life-saving drugs due to the prevalence of fevers in the city, has also increased. All these price hikes hinder low-income families from accessing healthcare services. Okeir says, “The price of medicines has increased significantly, and we only go to the doctor out of necessity under the pressure of a serious illness. If someone contracts malaria or infections, we are forced to forgo going to the doctors, and it is possible to go to the hospital with an illness and return without treatment.”
Schools opened their doors last February, amidst parents’ hesitation about sending their children to school. The main reason for their hesitation was the instability of the academic year and their lack of trust in the government’s decision to complete the academic year under the prevailing conditions. After the decision was made, parents were shocked by the high school fees imposed on them, whether in public or private schools, in addition to other needs such as school uniforms, books, and daily expenses. These costs have prevented many children from low-income families from attending school. Okeir, a father of two children, Abdul Rahman, aged 7, and Othman, aged 3, says, “I did not send my children to school. You can clearly see how the prices of clothes and notebooks have risen. Should I feed them or send them to school?”
Like Abdul Rahman and Othman, many children have not been able to attend school this year. This has affected the appearance of the city’s streets, which are crowded with children working as vendors or begging, in contrast to school hours.
Selling Property and Spending Savings
The income sources of most displaced people have been directly affected by the war. Naturally, displaced families follow the previously mentioned adaptation methods, but they also face the additional challenge of high and limited rental housing. In response to this challenge, many families have sold their property and spent their savings to adapt to the crisis and secure housing. Displaced middle-income families spend a significant portion of their income on housing, with monthly rents ranging between 950,000 and 3 billion Sudanese pounds. As a result, rent burdens a large part of the budget of displaced middle- and high-income families. For low-income families unable to afford rent, resort to staying in boats, if available, or in shelters where displaced persons face several issues.
Many displaced families have innovated ways to increase their income, sometimes additional or essential. Among displaced women, the sale of homemade ice cream to neighborhood children, snacks, and other products has become popular. Others work in selling perfumes and foods. Due to the destruction of many factories in the country, displaced families have turned to manufacturing some products at home and selling them to increase their income, notably dairy products. Recently, a common trend has been for all capable family members to work, sometimes including children. Despite all this, amid the current hardship, which may lead to an overall trend towards individual survival, many families depend on the assistance of their relatives and friends, especially those living abroad. The city sees various forms of generosity and solidarity between city residents and the displaced, with philanthropists continuously providing different aids to shelters, which have become a primary destination for distributing donations and assistance to meet needs. In the complex situation, the country is going through, social solidarity has become a vital mechanism for survival, and it is essential to emphasize the importance of solidarity.
SOURCE ATAR MAGAZINE
