Residents Of Sudan Capital Seek Perilous Escape As War Shatters Eid Holiday
NDTV
The Eid al-Fitr holiday is usually a time for many residents of Sudan's capital to visit relatives outside the city, which falls quiet. This year, those who can are making a frantic escape from Khartoum, driven out by war.
As the three-day Muslim holiday started on Friday the capital still echoed with gunfire and heavy artillery, despite international appeals for a ceasefire to allow for desperately needed humanitarian relief and safe passage for stranded civilians.
Both sides in the conflict announced on Friday they would adhere to a truce but sporadic firing continued in Khartoum into the evening.
Over the past week increasing numbers have sought to move to safer areas of the capital - though the military has closed bridges across the River Nile between Khartoum and its sister cities of Omdurman and Bahri.
