Residents of Sudan's capital seek perilous escape as war shatters holiday

An aerial view shows a mosque, as conflict between the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army continues, in Omdurman, Sudan April 21, 2023, in this screengrab obtained from a video by Reuters.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) -The Eid al-Fitr holiday is usually a time for many residents of Sudan's capital to visit relatives outside the city, which falls quiet. This year, those who can are making a frantic escape from Khartoum, driven out by war.

As the three-day Muslim holiday started on Friday the capital still echoed with gunfire and heavy artillery, despite international appeals for a ceasefire to allow for desperately needed humanitarian relief and safe passage for stranded civilians.