Lack of fuel paralyses transport in South Darfur’s capital

Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, is suffering of a lack of diesel and cooking gas. “The acute lack of fuel has led to the paralysis of the public transport,” listeners in Nyala reported to Radio Dabanga on Tuesday. “The petrol stations completely ran out of diesel. The price of a gallon of diesel at the black market has now risen to SDG65 ($11.35). Hundreds of citizens, who used to take the bus, are now walking to the work or the market.” Dealers in Nyala told Radio Dabanga that there is also a shortage of cooking gas. They attributed the acute crisis to the non-arrival of fuel supplies to South Darfur and the rest of the Darfur states. Reportedly the authorities have ordered the fuel supply convoys to return to El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, after armed rebel movements have taken control of Alliet and El Taweisha localities in the eastern part of North Darfur. The localities are adjacent to North Kordofan State, and the main road to Nyala passes through these localities. File photo: The central gas station in El Fasher, North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: 27,000 displaced by rebel attacks in North Darfur (9 March 2014) ‘Joint rebel forces take control of Um Saouna in North Darfur’: spokesman (9 March 2014) ‘Rebels looted market, banks in Alliet’: North Darfur MP (9 March 2014) Rebel forces claim control of North Darfur localities (5 March 2014)