Khartoum residents are grappling with intensified difficulties as prolonged power outages coincide with a severe heatwave. The capital's electricity supply has been unstable, with some areas experiencing blackouts lasting up to 48 hours, severely impacting households and businesses.

Families like that of Kawthar Ahmed have had to adjust their routines around intermittent power availability, struggling to keep food fresh and maintain cooling for vulnerable members amid soaring temperatures. "My brother is ill and needs a cool environment, but the outages only worsen his condition," she said.

Healthcare services are also disrupted. Diabetic patient Ruaa Omer highlighted the risk to essential medication storage, noting that insulin and refrigerated food perish without power. Dental clinics and other medical facilities face operational challenges due to equipment dependence on electricity, with some forced to suspend services or incur high costs running generators.

Local businesses suffer financial losses from spoiled goods and increased operational expenses as fuel prices surge, making generator use costly. Solar power remains out of reach for many.

Health Risks Rise Amid Heat and Blackouts

Health experts warn that the combination of heat and electricity shortages raises the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and skin conditions, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. Residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure, and seek well-ventilated spaces.

Causes and Responses to Power Crisis

  • Energy specialist Essam El-Din Al-Zein attributes the outages to reduced electricity generation, damaged infrastructure, and weak transmission networks.
  • Sudan's Ministry of Energy cites increased demand from high temperatures, returning residents, and agricultural and industrial activities, along with maintenance shutdowns.
  • Efforts to restore power include maintenance that has added over 260 megawatts to the grid, with expectations to surpass 600 megawatts as rehabilitation continues.

The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for infrastructure rehabilitation and expanded generation capacity to stabilize Khartoum's electricity supply and ease the burden on its residents.