The southern part of Sennar state is witnessing a fuel shortage, especially gasoline.

The shortage is reported to be acute in the areas of Abu Hajar, al-Dali, and al-Mazmum, which are lacking fuel since last week. Prices in these rural areas have reached as high as 100 Sudanese pounds per can.

Reports attributed the increases to new security measures regulating the sale of fuel. Nobody is allowed to buy more than two gallons, and that amount must be directly put into the fuel tank.

The fuel crisis began last week before peaking at the beginning of this week. The increase has caused higher fares for public transportation on commercial vehicles, as lack of some other services such as drinking water.

Locals are calling on the competent authorities to intervene to provide fuel so as for the situation does not worsen with the onset of warm weather.

File photo: A queue for gasoline in western Sudan in 2010.