Armed groups stormed the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in Sudan on Wednesday as the fighting between the country's warring sides intensified.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning "the sabotage and violence carried out by some armed groups" on the embassy in Sudan as well its ambassador and embassy staff.
It called for "confronting these groups that are trying to undermine [the] security and stability [of] Sudan and its people".
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said its embassy and the ambassador's residence were attacked and vandalised, leaving the building damaged.
The ministry emphasised "the need to stop acts of violence and vandalism in Sudan and to provide the full protection for the headquarters of diplomatic missions and civilian facilities".
All parties to the conflict must "give priority to national interests and must respond seriously to the Saudi-US initiative" to stop the war, it said.
The attacks were condemned by the Arab League and the Arab Parliament.
Fighting between Sudan's military and the rival Rapid Support Forces paramilitary has continued since mid-April despite efforts by Saudi Arabia, the US and other countries to broker a ceasefire.
A humanitarian truce brokered by Riyadh and Washington was suspended only days after coming into effect on May 22.
The fighting has inflicted a heavy toll on civilians, particularly children.
More than 860 civilians, including at least 190 children, have been killed and thousands of others wounded since April 15, according to Sudan's Doctors' Syndicate which tracks civilian casualties. The actual death toll is likely to be much higher.
The conflict has forced more than 1.9 million people to flee their homes, including about 477,000 who crossed into neighbouring countries, according to the UN's migration agency.
Others remain trapped in their homes, unable to escape as food and water supplies dwindle.
The clashes have also disrupted the work of humanitarian groups.
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
