The count of Sudanese individuals taking perilous journeys to escape the besieged town of El Fasher in North Darfur is escalating, with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifying assaults on the regional capital. Aid organizations, including Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), have noted this trend. Romain Madjissembaye, the MSF project manager in Tawila, stated that the numbers have been steadily rising since mid-August. The influx of people, many malnourished and facing various dangers like executions and gunshots, has been observed, with approximately 90 individuals arriving in critical conditions last week.
An estimated 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, are trapped in El Fasher, surrounded by RSF militias on three sides, enduring a siege that has lasted over 500 days. Reports indicate that due to the dire situation, some individuals are resorting to consuming animal feed to survive. MSF withdrew from El Fasher in August 2024, citing severe security issues and the lack of safety for their team and patients.
Individuals managing to reach Tawila from El Fasher have reported concerning conditions within the city. Accounts reveal that doctors at the remaining hospital in El Fasher are using mosquito nets for dressing wounds due to the shortage of medical supplies and personnel. There are reports of patients with bullets in their bodies requiring amputations, highlighting the dire healthcare situation.
Tawila has transformed into a vast refugee camp, accommodating hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals from El Fasher and the Zamzam displacement camp. UN humanitarian coordinator Denise Brown described Tawila as “one of the epicentres of a humanitarian catastrophe” during her recent visit. The challenges in delivering aid to the region are immense, with various obstacles hindering the process.
Sudan has been embroiled in a destructive conflict since April 2023, resulting from a fallout between two generals vying for power. The RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have been engaged in ongoing hostilities, with the RSF gaining control over most of Darfur and Khordofan. The recent focus on El Fasher by the RSF, the last SAF stronghold in Darfur, has raised concerns of a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Both sides in the conflict have been accused of committing atrocities, with reports of civilian gathering points being targeted by RSF shelling. The situation in El Fasher continues to deteriorate, with increasing violence and attacks on essential facilities like markets and hospitals. The international community has warned of the escalating crisis in Sudan, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian aid to prevent further suffering.
