Khartoum – Two years after the outbreak of the war in Sudan, and its gradual decline from the center of the country and the capital Khartoum, the heavy losses to citizens in various sectors revealed.
With the start of life to some cities, many Sudanese find themselves forced to start from the zero point, after they lost their property, savings, and sources of income, in light of the high rates of poverty and bankruptcy.
The estimates of the economist and former finance minister, Ibrahim Al -Badawi, indicate that the war caused the destruction of about 20% of the capitalist balance of the Sudanese economy, which is estimated at about 600 billion dollars. It also led to the erosion of more than half of the gross national product, which has an annual average of about 33 billion dollars.
Al -Badawi returns – during an electronic symposium recently – the size of these losses to the outbreak of the war in the capital, Khartoum, which is the first economic center in the country, where about 25% of Sudan’s economy is concentrated, in addition to the extension of the conflict to other vital cities such as Nyala and Al -Fasher in Darfur, Wood Civil in the state of Al -Jazeera, which are areas that constitute the nerve of agricultural and industrial production.
Wide destruction of infrastructure
The infrastructure sector was among the most affected, as more than 60% of the Sudanese regions suffer from a great scarcity of electricity, water and telecommunications supplies, after the battles destroyed vital facilities and networks.
The industrial structure was also severely damaged, as the data of the Sudanese Employers Union indicates that the country lost about 80% of its productive units, as more than 600 factories were affected entirely or partially, including 400 factories in Khartoum alone.
Currency bleeding and unprecedented enlargement
The value of the local currency has deteriorated in an unprecedented way, as the US dollar is currently trading about 2700 Sudanese pounds, compared to only 600 pounds before the outbreak of the war.
In a recent study, economist Adel Abdel Aziz estimated the total losses of economic sectors within two years of war at about 108.8 billion dollars, explaining that the indirect losses resulting from the stopping of the money cycle may be much greater than this number.
The study shows that the aviation and airports sector incurred losses of 3 billion dollars, while the public infrastructure sector, including ministries, universities, museums, and state roads, lost approximately 10 billion dollars.
The losses in the electricity, water and energy sector are estimated at 10 billion dollars, and in the commercial sector, tourism and hotels at 15 billion dollars, while the losses of the agricultural sector alone amounted to 10 billion dollars.
Bank bankruptcy and mass poverty
The losses were not only governmental or institutional, but also the citizens themselves. About 10,000 homes in the state of Khartoum were subjected to full looting, including private lockers, according to Adel Abdel Aziz.
The rebel rapid support forces also seized about 30,000 private vehicles, and the direct losses of citizens are estimated at 10 billion dollars.
Social researcher Salma Al -Amin indicates that the war raised poverty rates to more than 65%, and negatively affected businessmen, some of whom were forced to declare bankruptcy and leave the country.
The Secretary explains in her interview that most Sudanese families were dependent on the transfers of expatriates before the war, but these transfers converted today to comprehensive coverage of living after local families lost their income sources.
Towards returning from scratch
The International Monetary Fund data estimates that more than 3 million Sudanese lost their jobs during the war. According to the Secretary Social Researcher, the majority of citizens now start a journey to return to working life from scratch, which requires unconventional banking and social policies to encourage production and reduce poverty and unemployment rates.
The economist, Haitham Fathi, confirms that the Sudanese deserve compensation for the material and human losses they suffered, calling for the exploitation of international aid and friendly funds to compensate the affected people, stressing the need for the international community to support the fairness of the Sudanese people.
Funds outside the banking system
In a related context, social activist Abdullah Al -Aqab believes that the war revealed that the Sudanese people possess huge wealth outside the banking system, as more than 80% of the Sudanese money in local currency, and about 90% of gold and foreign currencies are kept outside the official banking framework, which made it vulnerable to looting and loss.
The punishment believes that the money of the Sudanese abroad, especially the money of expatriates in foreign banks, can constitute a nucleus to move the economy and absorb unemployment, provided that a safe and stable environment is provided.
