The warring military factions of Sudan clashed today in the country’s capital, Khartoum, as increased violence and spreading lawlessness added to the problems of residents struggling to find food and medicine.

Clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF), now in its eighth week, have killed hundreds of civilians and driven 400,000 people to cross the border and another 1.2 million to flee. the capital and other cities.

Saudi Arabia and the US brokered the talks that led to cease-fires that were not kept with the aim of providing humanitarian aid. But talks broke down last week and while missions remain in Jeddah no direct talks have been announced.

The hostilities cause severe destruction in the capital where the remaining residents are at the mercy of fighting, airstrikes and looting.

Ground and airstrikes continued overnight, with residents in southern and eastern Khartoum as well as northern Bahri hearing gunfire and clashes this morning.

During the night, opposing forces clashed in the streets of the city of Omdurman, around the Army Corps of Engineers base. The army, which tends to prefer airstrikes to ground clashes, also managed to hold positions around the base but was unable to push back the RSF, which controls most of the rest of the city.

“Our neighborhood became a war zone. There are fierce clashes and beatings around us because our house is next to the Corps of Engineers,” said 45-year-old Jawair Mohammed. “We are afraid of dying but we are also afraid of leaving our home and having it stolen,” he added.

The looters, some of whom belong to the RSF according to Khartoum residents and local committees, have looted neighborhoods across the capital, stealing cars, breaking into safes and taking over homes.

Humanitarian organizations have scrambled to provide aid to residents of Khartoum, who are facing shortages of electricity and water as well as dwindling supplies in shops and pharmacies. Resistance committees set up in neighborhoods have organized such aid but are struggling as the conflict intensifies. “We couldn’t distribute medicine because of the shelling,” said an activist who wished to remain anonymous.