Doha, April 30 (QNA) - A glimpse of hope emerged in the possibility of putting an end to the ongoing battles in Sudan, which have just begun its third week, while mediation efforts and regional international peace initiatives are taking place to stop the firing between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), amid fears of the conflict extending and spreading chaos in the entire region.

While African and Sudanese parties are contacting the two parties of the conflict at several levels - to stabilize the situation and open a political dialogue between the two parties, US is conducting indirect negotiations between the two parties of the conflict in an effort to calm them down and reach a permanent ceasefire between the Sudanese Army and RSF.

Press reports in Khartoum stated that the efforts of US aim to turn the armistice into a permanent cessation of conflicts, form a team to supervise the humanitarian aspects, open corridors for international aid, and form another team to supervise negotiations between the Army and RSF, adding that these efforts also aim to form a joint committee that includes the two parties and representatives of the tripartite mechanism to monitor the implementation of ceasing conflict.

Observers expect international and regional efforts to integrate with Africa to establish what they described as a unified hybrid platform to settle the Sudanese crisis by developing the armistice into a permanent ceasefire and resuming the political process to complete the civil democratic transition.

In a development that reflects cautious optimism, United Nations' Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perthes announced that the two conflicting parties are more open to negotiations, and they acknowledge that the conflict that broke out two weeks ago cannot continue, pointing out that the two parties have nominated their representatives for the talks, which were proposed to take place either in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, or Juba, Sudan.

Perthes informed the UN Security Council that the task that cannot be delayed is to develop a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of the agreed truce, after previous truces failed to stop the fighting.

According to Sudanese press reports, Major General Abu Bakr Faqiri will be representing the Sudanese Army, while Brigadier General Musa Usman will be representing Rapid Support Forces. The situation that exploded in Sudan in mid-April has disrupted an internationally supported transition towards democratic elections after two years, according to the framework agreement.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the conflict has killed hundreds and displaced about 75,000 people to neighboring countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad and South Sudan), whilst foreign countries are conducting large-scale evacuations.

The Sudanese Ministry of Health announced that clashes between both parties to the conflict has claimed the lives of 528 people and injured about 4,600 others.

The Sudan Doctors Syndicate announced that 70 percent of the hospitals adjacent to the areas of clashes are out of service. The Syndicate stated that 15 hospitals were bombed, while 19 others were forcefully evacuated, pointing out that medical teams were prevented from transporting patients and delivering medical supplies.

Former Sudanese prime minister Abdalla Hamdok warned that if allowed to continue, the conflict in Sudan could escalate into one of the worst civil wars in the world. Hamdok said in his statement that if Sudan enters into a real civil war, that war will make those in Syria, Yemen and Libya seem like small duels, which will constitute a nightmare for the world and will have major repercussions.
Hamdok considered that the current conflict is a meaningless war between two armies, stressing that no one will emerge victorious from it, thus, it must stop.

United Nations has expressed its fear of the possibility of a long-term all-out war in Sudan, which shares borders with 7 countries, all of which have witnessed conflicts or civil unrest over the past decade.

Fighting is taking place in a region where insecurity and political instability are exacerbating, with the humanitarian situation only deteriorating, UN added.

World Food Program (WFP) also warned that the violence in Sudan could cause a humanitarian crisis in the entire East African region, expecting millions of people to suffer from hunger there, as nearly a third of the 45 million Sudanese needed food aid before the outbreak of the conflict. (QNA)