Khartoum Families on Brink: War and Soaring Inflation Threaten Survival

Rasha Abdelaziz Musa, a 39-year-old tea seller in Khartoum, struggles daily to provide for her four children amidst escalating food prices in Sudan. Despite working seven hours a day, finishing at 10 pm, she remains uncertain if she can adequately feed her family. Her husband, a soldier in the Sudanese military, has been on the front lines fighting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over eight months since the war began in 2023. Musa has lost contact with him and receives no financial support, leaving her solely responsible for their children's education, from kindergarten to secondary school.

Musa shared with Al Jazeera that feeding her family costs approximately 40,000 Sudanese pounds daily (equivalent to $4 at the parallel market rate), excluding rent, essentials, and other expenditures. Staples like ful medames and lentils are common, but when lentils become too expensive, she resorts to serving taamiya, or falafel, sandwiches. Prices fluctuate constantly, often leaving Musa indebted to her food suppliers by the end of the day.

Musa's plight is shared by many large families facing financial hardship. Ahmed Youssef, 61, supports a family of 12 through his work at a butcher's shop and occasional livestock sales, earning an irregular income of 90,000 to 140,000 pounds ($9 to $14) per successful deal. He told Al Jazeera that his household's daily expenses exceed 100,000 Sudanese pounds ($10), and his income is insufficient. "One income is no longer enough to cover the family’s needs, and sometimes my older children have to work to help meet expenses," Youssef stated.

Ali Fadil, who supports a family of 10, faces similar challenges. Lacking permanent employment, he seeks daily work at the market. While some days provide enough earnings for food, others leave him with no work at all. His daily expenses amount to about 70,000 pounds ($7), with rising prices exacerbating his financial strain. "Sometimes I skip meals so I can pay for school fees or medical costs," he said. "I also borrow money to meet other obligations."

A recent survey by Al Jazeera in four Khartoum State markets revealed a sharp increase in essential food prices within days, complicating household budgeting. The price of a kilogramme of sugar rose to about 10,000 pounds ($1) from 9,000 pounds ($0.90). A litre of cooking oil increased to 25,000 pounds ($2.50) from 20,000 pounds ($2), and a loaf of bread now costs 500 pounds ($0.05), up from 300 pounds ($0.03) a week prior. Lentils are priced at approximately 10,000 pounds ($1) per kilogramme, up from 8,000 pounds ($0.80), and rice at 13,000 pounds ($1.30) per kilogramme, up from 10,000 pounds ($1). Powdered milk reached 70,000 pounds ($7) per kilogramme, an increase from 60,000 pounds ($6) two days earlier.

The Sudanese pound continues to depreciate. On Friday, $1 traded at 10,050 Sudanese pounds on the parallel market, compared to 9,500 the previous day, according to Al Jazeera's exchange rate monitoring.

Official data corroborates the rising cost of living, particularly in urban centers like Khartoum. Sudan’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported a 28 percent nationwide price increase in September compared to the previous year, up from 26 percent in August. Prices saw a 7.5 percent rise in September alone, more than double the previous month's increase. Food and beverage prices surged by nearly 37 percent year-on-year in September, a significant jump from the 21 percent increase in August. Food prices alone escalated by over 17 percent in September.

Khartoum State experienced particularly severe price hikes, with costs nearly 60 percent higher than a year ago. Prices in September increased by over 15 percent, following a nearly 9 percent rise in August. This surge coincides with the capital's slow recovery from war-induced destruction. Despite the return of displaced residents and gradual business reopening since the military retook the state from the RSF last year, damaged infrastructure and high transport costs hinder goods availability. Increased demand from returning residents has further driven up prices.

Fuel shortages affected the capital in September as consumption outpaced supply replenishment. Urban areas generally face greater price pressures than rural communities, with food prices in cities 55 percent higher year-on-year, compared to about 40 percent in August. Overall urban prices rose 40 percent annually, versus approximately 21 percent in rural areas. The war is identified as the primary driver, disrupting livelihoods and supply chains. The World Bank estimates Sudan's economy contracted by 29 percent in 2023 and is projected to shrink by another 14 percent in 2024 due to the conflict's devastating impact on businesses, agriculture, and employment. The war has also displaced millions, with nearly 8.9 million people remaining internally displaced as of April, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Economic analyst Khalid Teks noted that Sudan's economic decline predates the war, citing factors like reduced oil production post-South Sudan's secession in 2011, currency depreciation, cash shortages, international isolation, political conflict, and corruption before the 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir. Teks explained that political instability during the transition period hampered economic performance, and crucial reforms were not implemented before the 2023 war. The conflict has since devastated infrastructure and productive sectors, depleted savings, and disrupted economic activity. Climate conditions also play a role, with concerns about limited rainfall this year potentially leading to food shortages after the November harvest, despite strong agricultural production in 2024.

Teks highlighted that families are increasingly exhausting their savings and selling possessions to meet daily needs. He also pointed to disruptions in remittance channels, a vital source of financial support for many Sudanese households. Teks advocates for improved humanitarian access, an end to the war, direct aid for vulnerable families, and low-interest loans for small businesses and craft enterprises. "The government needs to provide direct support through dedicated funds and the Zakat Chamber, facilitate humanitarian organisations and offer affordable loans for small businesses and vocational activities," Teks recommended. "This could help reopen markets and workshops and expand microfinance."