Hit by extremely hot weather, the people displaced by the armed conflict in Sudan are struggling to handle a rash of woes including heatstroke, power outage and water shortage.
The armed conflict in Sudan has been going on for over a year, causing more than 10 million people to be displaced. More than 100,000 residents fleeing the conflict zone have fled to the coastal city of Port Sudan, located in the Red Sea State in east Sudan.
This summer, the daily temperatures often exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, even reaching over 45 degrees Celsius. The persistent broiling and humid weather has further worsened the living conditions of the asylum seekers.
According to statistics from the Sudanese Ministry of Health, since July this year, the Red Sea State has reported 84 cases of severe heatstroke, eight of which have died.
"Port Sudan is known for its high temperatures in summer. People need to take measures against the heat. The government should strengthen publicity and prevention," said Monzer Mohamed, a displaced person.
"When we lived in Khartoum, the temperature usually did not rise until 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning, but in Port Sudan, the temperature was very high at 07:00 in the morning. Displaced people like us can't handle this." said Ahmed Ali, another displaced person.
Port Sudan is also facing electricity scarcity. The conflict in Sudan has severely damaged the infrastructure, and the influx of asylum seekers has further pushed up energy demand. Currently, Port Sudan often experiences power outages lasting 10 to 14 hours on a daily basis.
The problem of power outage is even more severe in the refugee shelters, with some of them only having power for a few hours per day.
"The power supply is very unstable, and there are often power cuts of more than ten hours. We can only take shade under the trees on the street or find a cool place by the seaside," said Othman Al-Toum, a refugee.
"The impact of the power outage is too severe. Sometimes, after the power just comes back on for one or two hours, it goes out again for several more hours. I cannot work normally, and neither can others," said Ali Moatasem, another refugee.
Many of the refugee shelters are also facing a shortage of clean drinking water and water for daily use.
The armed conflict in the country broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum on April 15, 2023, subsequently engulfing other regions of the country, and continues to this day, leaving the country facing one of the world's most severe refugee crises.
Heat wave exacerbates suffering of displaced people in Sudan
Heat wave exacerbates suffering of displaced people in Sudan
Heat wave exacerbates suffering of displaced people in Sudan
Long-standing challenges in Mexico's automotive industry have been exacerbated with the implementation of the U.S. tariff on imported cars, which took effect Thursday, fueling uncertainty and job losses.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported automobiles.
Ciudad Juarez, one of Mexico's largest trade ports and a key manufacturing hub, is now facing even greater challenges as rising trade protectionism deepens existing pressures.
At a medal parts manufacturing factory that has been in operation for over 30 years, the workforce has drastically reduced from 60 workers to just 25 due to uncertainty about the future.
Even before the U.S. tariffs on imported cars took effect, mounting pressure had already begun to ripple through the industry, prompting many companies to suspend investment and procurement plans.
"Some 95 percent of the products exported from Chihuahua, where Ciudad Juarez is located, are industrial manufactured goods. We have held multiple meetings to discuss solutions. In fact, over the past year and a half, more than 55,000 factory workers here in the city have lost their jobs," said the owner of the factory.
The automotive industry is a key pillar of Mexico's economy, generating nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars in output. The auto parts assembly industry alone provides over 900,000 jobs for the country, while automotive assembly companies create 175,000 jobs.
According to statistics from the Mexican Association of Automotive Dealers (AMDA), over 40 percent of the components used by American auto manufacturers are imported from Mexico. Last year, Mexico produced four million cars, approximately three million of which were exported to the U.S.
Industry insiders indicate that due to the high degree of interdependence in the sector between the U.S. and Mexico, along with a shortage of skilled labor, the U.S. goal of bringing automotive manufacturing back to its shores through tariffs is unlikely to be realized in the short term.
Moreover, the established industrial chain in Mexico faces the risk of being disrupted, which will ultimately have repercussions on consumer spending and further exacerbate inflation in the long run.
"Young people from the U.S. are no longer willing to work in the manufacturing sector. I believe there will be no growth in the relocation of automotive parts and vehicles factories in the short term," said Guillermo Rosales Zarate, ADMA's executive president.
"Personally, I hope this avalanche of tariffs doesn't continue; otherwise, it will lead to more significant issues affecting the U.S. economy. If these tariffs remain in place long-term, it will be the American people who suffer the most," said Ricardo Ramos, a professor with the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez.
U.S. automotive tariffs deepen industry pressures, halt investments in Mexico
