This is a long and complex article about the importation of chlorine barrels by a company called Ports Engineering in Sudan. Here's a summary of the main points:
**Background**
* The article begins with an explanation of the critical water crisis in Sudan, where nearly 17.3 million people lack access to safe drinking water.
* The country has been embroiled in a civil war since 2021, which has led to the destruction of treatment facilities and power outages.
**Chlorine barrels**
* The article reveals that Ports Engineering, a company linked to a group under international sanctions, imported at least 125 cylinders of chlorine gas to Sudan since the start of the civil war.
* The company claimed that these barrels were meant for use in the purification of drinking water, but an investigation found that many of them had been used as chemical weapons.
**Military connection**
* Trade data from C4ADS shows that Ports Engineering often imports goods with a military nature, including "link belts" designed to hold ammunition for machine guns.
* An analyst from C4ADS stated that the description of the shipment destined for Bond Technologies FZE, which was purchased by Karmetal, identified them as "springs", but it is unclear whether this material contained link belts or other military equipment.
**Lack of transparency**
* Ports Engineering and the Sudanese army have refused to comment on the use of these chlorine barrels, leaving it impossible to determine their true purpose.
* The company's website went offline during the investigation, making it difficult to access information about its activities.
**Implications**
* The article concludes that the importation of chlorine barrels by Ports Engineering raises serious concerns about the use of chemical weapons in Sudan and the involvement of companies linked to international sanctions in the conflict.
* The lack of transparency from Ports Engineering and the Sudanese army makes it difficult to determine the true extent of the issue.
Overall, the article highlights the complex and disturbing situation in Sudan, where civilians are suffering due to the lack of access to safe drinking water, and companies linked to international sanctions may be involved in the conflict.
**Background**
* The article begins with an explanation of the critical water crisis in Sudan, where nearly 17.3 million people lack access to safe drinking water.
* The country has been embroiled in a civil war since 2021, which has led to the destruction of treatment facilities and power outages.
**Chlorine barrels**
* The article reveals that Ports Engineering, a company linked to a group under international sanctions, imported at least 125 cylinders of chlorine gas to Sudan since the start of the civil war.
* The company claimed that these barrels were meant for use in the purification of drinking water, but an investigation found that many of them had been used as chemical weapons.
**Military connection**
* Trade data from C4ADS shows that Ports Engineering often imports goods with a military nature, including "link belts" designed to hold ammunition for machine guns.
* An analyst from C4ADS stated that the description of the shipment destined for Bond Technologies FZE, which was purchased by Karmetal, identified them as "springs", but it is unclear whether this material contained link belts or other military equipment.
**Lack of transparency**
* Ports Engineering and the Sudanese army have refused to comment on the use of these chlorine barrels, leaving it impossible to determine their true purpose.
* The company's website went offline during the investigation, making it difficult to access information about its activities.
**Implications**
* The article concludes that the importation of chlorine barrels by Ports Engineering raises serious concerns about the use of chemical weapons in Sudan and the involvement of companies linked to international sanctions in the conflict.
* The lack of transparency from Ports Engineering and the Sudanese army makes it difficult to determine the true extent of the issue.
Overall, the article highlights the complex and disturbing situation in Sudan, where civilians are suffering due to the lack of access to safe drinking water, and companies linked to international sanctions may be involved in the conflict.