PORT SUDAN, Sudan, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 79 civilians have died in the city of Al Hilaliya, besieged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's eastern Gezira region for nearly two weeks, volunteer groups said on Thursday.

"The death toll in Al Hilaliya has reached 79 due to the RSF siege," the Nidaa Al-Wasat Platform, a volunteer group monitoring rights violations in central Sudan, reported. "The city has become a large prison, with nearly 100,000 residents suffering from this two-week-long blockade."

Residents in the besieged city face severe shortages of food and medicine, with dozens reportedly dying from deteriorating health conditions amid outbreaks of disease, the group added.

Local activists and volunteer groups have accused the RSF of launching attacks across eastern Gezira following the surrender of its regional commander, Abu Aqla Keikel, and his forces to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Oct. 20.

The RSF, however, has denied targeting civilians, stating its actions are aimed at fighting armed groups supporting the Sudanese army. "Those recently attacked in eastern Gezira are not civilians," RSF advisor Imran Abdullah said on social media platform X on Oct. 29, claiming there has been a "deliberate" campaign to arm local residents.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported Tuesday that around 135,400 people have been displaced across Gezira State since Oct. 20, following a surge of violence affecting over 30 villages and towns.

Sudan has been gripped by conflict between the SAF and RSF since mid-April 2023. According to a report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project on Oct. 14, the ongoing conflict has claimed more than 24,850 lives. The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 14 million people have been displaced within or outside Sudan as of Oct. 29. Enditem

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