The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the city of El-Fasher, capturing key locations amidst mounting human rights violations. Despite the army's counteroffensive, local residents continue to suffer from acute shortages of food and medical supplies, while international aid remains insufficient in addressing the humanitarian fallout.
RSF Gains Ground in El-Fasher Amidst Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
RSF Gains Ground in El-Fasher Amidst Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
A recent assault by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces on El-Fasher has intensified the already dire humanitarian situation in the city, raising alarms of increasing violence and famine.
The Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a significant offensive on the beleaguered city of El-Fasher on Friday, resulting in a fierce seven-hour battle that has exacerbated an ongoing humanitarian crisis. Witnesses reported that the RSF seized a cattle market, prison, and military base, releasing videos where they could be seen in desolate stockyards, marking their largest incursion into the city since the siege of El-Fasher began 15 months ago.
By Saturday morning, the Sudanese army managed to drive the RSF back beyond the city limits, claiming to have inflicted "heavy losses" on the paramilitary group. However, local residents, such as 65-year-old Siddig Omar, reported ongoing drone shelling that has continued to threaten civilian lives; one recent strike resulted in the death of five people in a civilian vehicle.
As Sudan continues to spiral into civil war—prompted by a violent power struggle between the army and RSF since April 2023—the situation in El-Fasher has become increasingly desperate. Approximately 150,000 people have perished in the conflict, with 12 million more displaced, according to the United Nations, which has labeled the situation as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Mathilde Vu from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) described El-Fasher as a "death trap," highlighting the relentless bombardment and attacks on civilian infrastructure. Local volunteers are risking their lives to provide scarce food to starving residents, illustrating the desperate conditions prevailing in the region.
Residents have expressed their growing sense of hopelessness, with reports of no available food to buy in local markets, even for those with money. There is an acute shortage of medicine and healthcare, leading to a catastrophic humanitarian situation. Currently, the only sustenance available for some has been “ombaz,” the waste left over from peanut oil extraction, which is rapidly disappearing as processing operations halt due to conflict.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the international response, with officials like Vu criticizing the diminishing aid and the global community's disengagement from the conflict. Her remarks come on the heels of the International Criminal Court (ICC) revealing credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed in Darfur.
The unrelenting violence and humanitarian crises continue to grow, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention and support for the beleaguered residents of El-Fasher.
