In Sudan, amid the chaos of conflict, Islam’s holy month of fasting arrives for many this year with deep struggles. Ramadan usually brings a special taste and scent to the North African nation, but this year, people are missing its essence due to the ongoing war.
War has not just displaced, injured, and killed, but has also left people without means to live. Many Sudanese have lost income, spent savings, and sold whatever they could for basic needs like dates and water, facing steep prices.
They plan for the month ahead, but poverty, displacement, and loss have dimmed their Ramadan spirit.
Reports show that even in safer areas, workers get only about 60% of their pay since the war started. The Sudanese pound has weakened, and prices have soared, hitting hard, especially in government jobs.
Minister of Finance Jibril Ibrahim had revealed that the state lost over 80% of its income due to the war.
Amid Ramadan, Sudanese grapple with severe poverty, relying heavily on aid from relatives abroad, according to Kamal Karar, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Karar highlighted the widespread economic impact of the war, causing individuals, groups, and businesses to lose income.
Abdelazim Al-Mahal, a Sudanese expert, adds that many in Sudan can’t afford basic needs anymore, as prices soar.
He noted that even in areas without fighting, many have lost at least half of their income.
A recent survey by Asharq Al-Awsat in Port Sudan’s markets shows prices soaring for Ramadan staples.
The cost of sugar, a Ramadan must-have, is up, along with that of lentils and rice. Chicken now stands at 6,000 Sudanese pounds per kilo.
Traditionally bustling with Ramadan foods and drinks, markets are now sparse, with many Sudanese facing the toughest Ramadan yet due to high prices and widespread poverty.
Karar explained that traders are importing fewer goods due to reduced demand from displacement, leaving people struggling to afford their Ramadan needs.
Beyond Ramadan needs, hunger plagues around 24.8 million Sudanese out of a total population of 51 million, says the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Most affected are children, women, and the elderly, with roughly 10 million internally displaced.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that at least two children die every hour in displacement camps.