Mystery poisonings claim 166 lives in besieged Al‑Hilaliya
More than 150 people have died due to mysterious poisoning in the city of Al-Hilaliya, which has been besieged for several weeks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Dozens more have been hospitalised. The tragic data was reported on Saturday by the Gezira Conference, an organisation monitoring human rights violations in Sudan.
"40 deaths from poisoning were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 166, including 15 by direct fire from the RSF, and 151 who died from poisoning," the Gezira Conference stated in its announcement.
According to the organisation, after taking control of Al-Hilaliya, the RSF has committed numerous abuses against civilians.
The Rapid Support Forces are accused of destroying and looting the city's critical infrastructure. The devastation includes the municipal dialysis centre serving 31 surrounding villages and the main hospital. The RSF is also alleged to have destroyed water wells, grain mills, pharmacies, and electrical infrastructure.
The local resistance movement operating in Al-Hilaliya accuses the RSF of distributing chemically processed wheat intended for agricultural use among the residents. This likely led to mass poisonings, which cannot be stopped due to the lack of access to doctors and medicine.
The Gezira Conference also reports that the RSF is demanding one million Sudanese pounds (about £350) from each person wishing to evacuate from the city, in which more than 30,000 people still reside. The RSF commanders deny the allegations, shifting the blame to "criminals" linked to the former regime.
The civil war in Sudan, which broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and its former ally RSF, has already claimed over 20,000 victims. The conflict has led to the destruction of the country's capital, the displacement of a quarter of the population, and the ruin of the economy, causing a famine. Currently, the fighting is over control of the Al Jazirah province in central-eastern Sudan, a key agricultural area under RSF control since the end of last year.
