Gunfire and explosions in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, have spread to the west and the south of the city as fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces escalates. The army says it has deployed thousands of soldiers, carrying out operations on foot for the first time since fighting broke out almost a week ago. “We had a lot of sort of heavy gunfire in this area. It’s possible that some of the paramilitary forces were being chased by the Sudan armed forces into the neighbourhood from the main road which they had been occupying,” Kholood Khair, a political analyst who lives in Khartoum, told the BBC’s Newshour programme. “This shows you to what extent ordinary citizens are being caught in the crossfire and are collateral in something like this – that these skirmishes which I imagine will become more frequent will have a lot of people indoors and afraid.” She said people were working together to get basic supplies but many were in a desperate situation. “Everyone’s helping… each other out, of course. We’re seeing this on a much grander scale across the city. There have been sort of grocery runs, bread runs – but very carefully timed and not of course without risk. “There are people around the city, and around the country which we’re hearing are in a much more desperate situation where there is no access, or they can’t leave the premises at any time of day… [or] they may not have the money.”