Despite a week-long cease-fire agreed to by all sides, significant violence was reported in and around Sudan's capital, Khartoum, early Thursday.

Sudan's national army and the paramilitary Rapid Defense Forces (RDF) appeared to be vying for control of regions near the presidential palace and army headquarters in central Khartoum.

U.S. President Joe Biden lamented the ongoing violence in Washington. He implemented penalties to prevent any Sudanese from avoiding the country's democratic transition from carrying out financial transactions involving any U.S. accounts or property they may own.

PHOTO | COURTESY Sudan war

The president of the United States stated in a statement that the bloodshed in Sudan is a tragedy—and a betrayal of the Sudanese people's specific demand for civilian rule and a transition to democracy.

"This violence, which has already taken hundreds of civilian lives and began during the holy month of Ramadan, is unconscionable." It has to come to an end."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to the violence in Sudan and international assistance for the Sudanese people, whom he described as facing a humanitarian disaster.

During a press conference in Nairobi, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that aid must be allowed into Sudan and that they need secure and immediate access to distribute it to the people who need it the most.

PHOTO | COURTESY smoke engulfs the city

According to Sudan's Health Ministry, more than 500 people have been killed. Almost 5,000 have been injured since the combat began on April 15, during a power struggle between Sudanese government troops and the paramilitary Rapid Support troops.

According to the United Nations Migration Agency (IOM), over 334,000 people have been internally displaced due to the violence, and 100,000 have fled the country.

The United Nations refugee agency warns that the fighting could force over 800,000 people to abandon the country in north-eastern Africa.

Many are heading to Sudan's seven bordering nations, which include Chad, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Egypt, and Ethiopia.