Sudan power cut sparks price surge
A drone attack on a substation has left Rabak without electricity for two weeks, driving up costs for basic goods.
Residents of Rabak, in Sudan’s White Nile state, have endured a 14-day power blackout following a drone attack on the Mashkour electricity substation at the end of October. The outage has caused sharp price increases for essential services, with a block of ice now costing SDG 60,000 and charging a mobile phone rising to SDG 5,000.
Milling 3.5 kilogrammes of grain now costs SDG 10,000 as mills operate on generators, leading to long queues for flour. Water supplies have resumed at SDG 3,000 per container after pumps were restarted with generators. Children's education has halted after dark, forcing families to use charcoal irons for school uniforms, which cost SDG 3,000 per bag.
The prolonged power outage has made daily life a struggle in Rabak, with rising costs for food, water, refrigeration, and communications. There is no clear indication from officials on when electricity will be restored to the city.
Why it mattersResidents of Rabak face increased costs for essential goods and services due to a prolonged power outage.