Since one month the main roads to El Sareif Beni Hussein locality in North Darfurandnbsp;are blocked by militia troops.andnbsp;The locality's population is suffering from the ensuing shortages and price increases of consumer goods and medicines. In North Darfur’s capital El Fasher people are complaining of sudden price increases of basic commodities.
“The price of a 100kg sack of grain has risen to SDG500 ($87), a sack of onions to SDG650 ($114), a tin of cooking oil to SDG430 ($75), and a kilo of sugar to SDG20 ($3.50)”, a resident of El Sareif reported to Radio Dabanga. “There is a huge lack of medicines, and the prices are sky-rocketing.”
“We are trapped now for more than a month by this militia of thieves. They are blocking the roads between El Sareif-Saraf Umra,andnbsp;and El Sareif-Kabkabiya.” andnbsp;
He demanded from the authorities to break the siege, open the roads, and deter the militias.
Sudden increases
In El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, people complain about the “sudden increase of basic commodities”. “The price of a 50kg sack of imported sugar has risen to SDG340 ($59), a kilo of potatoes to SDG10 ($1.75), a kilo of tomatoes to SDG5 ($0.90), and a tin of groundnut oil to SDG195 ($34),” a trader in El Fasher told Radio Dabanga.
“A quintal (49kg) of dried tomatoes now costs SDG700 ($122), a quintal of dried okra SDG 1,300 ($227), and a quintal of dried chilli to SDG1,900 ($332). The price of a 100kg sack of millet rose to SDG450 ($79), while a 100kg sack of sorghum has risen to SDG400 ($70).”
The merchants and citizens in El Fasher called upon the North Darfur State government to secure the main roads to the capital and other towns in the state, lift the fees imposed on the shops, and keep control of the market prices.