Sudan’s capital Khartoum, already struggling to recover from the devastating effects of war, is now facing compounded hardships as prolonged power outages disrupt food storage, healthcare, businesses, and daily life amid scorching temperatures.

Impact on Daily Life and Health

Frequent outages, sometimes lasting up to 48 hours, have forced families to reorganise their daily routines around the electricity schedule. Residents report being unable to keep food fresh, store essential medication like insulin, or use cooling devices during extreme heat. Health expert Osama Awadallah warned of increased risks of skin rashes, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, with children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses being the most vulnerable.

Businesses and Healthcare Disrupted

Grocery store owners face direct financial losses from spoiled goods, while operating generators has become increasingly expensive due to soaring fuel prices. At a dental clinic, dentist Ruaa Adil Mustafa said daily outages of up to 18 hours have severely disrupted operations, sometimes forcing staff to suspend work or postpone cases.

Causes of the Crisis

Energy expert Essam El-Din Al-Zein attributed the continued outages to declining electricity generation, the shutdown of power plants, weak transmission and distribution networks, and damage to electrical infrastructure. Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum cited rising demand driven by high temperatures, the return of residents, increased agricultural and industrial consumption, and maintenance shutdowns. The Ministry added that more than 260 megawatts have been restored to the national grid through maintenance, with available generation capacity expected to exceed 600 megawatts after ongoing rehabilitation.