There is a growing concern about the impact of the fuel crisis on access to essential services in El Fasher town, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur State.
Mohamed Adam Kash, Director of the General Administration of Rural Water and Vice Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Water Emergency in North Darfur State, told Radio Tamazuj on Saturday that the fuel crisis could jeopardize the provision of water in the city.
He pointed out that they met over the fuel shortage issue and decided to purchase 600 barrels of fuel to operate electricity in water stations and health facilities.
Kash stated that the purchase of fuel through the water sector and with contributions from other institutions is considered an emergency or partial solution that fails to guarantee the stability of essential services in North Darfur.
Kash stressed that the solution is the provision of the state’s monthly share of fuel, which he said is the responsibility of the federal government and the regional and state governments.
He underscored that the water sector is ready to provide water services to citizens whenever the electrical supply is available, but there are other responsibilities besides purchasing fuel. He appealed to the governments of the region and North Darfur State to do their part and urged the federal authorities to provide the state’s share of fuel.
The city of El Fasher has been witnessing power outages in residential areas for more than six months due to the lack of fuel.
Sudan has plunged into chaos since fighting erupted in mid-April between the country’s two rival top generals. There is an increasing concern for those trapped and displaced by the war, and aid workers and civilians have said there’s a dire lack of essential services, medical care, food, and water.
The fighting has turned urban areas into battlefields.