Reports from aid agencies highlight a growing humanitarian crisis in and around El-Fasher, Sudan. The scale of violence is becoming increasingly apparent as individuals flee the area, sharing harrowing accounts of their experiences.
Violence and Displacement in El-Fasher
Witnesses indicate that intense shelling forced many residents to flee El-Fasher for neighboring towns, such as Tawila, located approximately 60 kilometers to the west. One survivor recounted the harrowing journey, where they faced threats from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who reportedly filmed their ordeal, beat them, and stole their possessions.
- Travelers were subjected to capture, with ransoms demanded for their release.
- A number of those taken hostage were later executed.
- Dangers included severe hunger and thirst along the route.
Humanitarian Situation Declared Catastrophic
Jan Egeland, a former senior UN humanitarian official, characterized the situation in Sudan as catastrophic. He noted that ongoing massacres compound months of deprivation, starvation, and lack of medical care. Egeland called attention to the severity of the crisis, describing El-Fasher as “the worst place on Earth.”
Attacks on Healthcare Facilities
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), also condemned the violence, particularly the assault on healthcare services. He disclosed that 185 attacks on medical facilities have been confirmed since the conflict began, leading to 1,204 deaths.
- All attacks on healthcare must cease immediately.
- International humanitarian law mandates the protection of patients and healthcare professionals.
- A call for a ceasefire has been issued.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has effectively divided the country. The RSF controls much of Darfur and parts of Kordofan, while the Sudanese army retains control over the capital, Khartoum, and other central and eastern territories. This situation emerged from former alliances between the two groups, which soured following their joint coup in 2021.
