Sudan Bread Crisis: Residents of Khartoum were seen queuing outside bakeries on Tuesday, as a result of the worsening bread crisis, which lead the ministry of education to announce a reduction of study hours.
The Sudan bread crisis comes as main ports and roads remain closed, causing a drastic shortage of means of production, most significantly flour. On Monday, the ministry of education announced the reduction of study hours as a result of the bread crisis. According to the Ministry’s announcement, the number of classes shall not exceed 4 classes per day, until the crisis is over.
“You are now adding more suffering to the people”
According to local reports, nearly 80 percent of bakeries stopped working, and the price of one loaf of bread rose to 50 Sudanese pounds in some bakeries, compared to 25 pounds last week.
More than three weeks ago, supporters of the chief of Hadendoa tribe blocked vital facilities and roads in the eastern parts of the country, demanding the cancellation of the ‘Eastern Track’ peace agreement, the dissolution of civil government, and transferring power to the military.
Sudan Bread Crisis – Voices Of The Local People
Amer Abbas, Local (Arabic): “You are now adding more suffering to people, parents, and students. I lose money in transportation, and if I have a car, I lose fuel and there is a problem with the fuel. The students study for two hours and then they send them back home. Should I go to my work and come back for her [my daughter] or wait for her? Now I’m waiting for my daughter at school, I can’t go to work and come back to her because I have a problem with fuel, too much cost.”
Mohammed Hamza, local (Arabic): “As all people know, the suffering is renewed on a daily basis. Rows on subsidized bread, spoiled flour, and empty promises. All the problems are blamed on the Eastern Sudan front, and the road is closed, even though the country has abundant production. Bread in some areas, even subsidized bread, is sold for 10 and 15 pounds, and commercial bread costs 50 pounds per loaf, and school students are out of schools at 11 and bad transportation for lack of fuel.”
Howida Abdel Majid, Local (Arabic): “I came to school to bring breakfast for my daughter because I did not find bread in the morning. We all respect the Ministry’s decision that students shall return at 11:)) but a delay for my children in school is a delay for their classes, a delay for their lessons. Why is there no bread? I appeal to the government, have mercy on the Sudanese people. Bread is the simplest material that must be available. Why is it not available? What is the reason? Why do they close the port? If you can’t run the country, say so.”
