The growing number of Sudanese individuals attempting to escape the besieged city of El Fasher in North Darfur amid intensified attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has raised concerns among aid organizations, including Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
Romain Madjissembaye, MSF’s project manager in Tawila, reported a continuous increase in the number of people seeking refuge since mid-August. He highlighted the arrival of approximately 90 individuals in critical conditions, many of whom were malnourished and had faced threats of execution and gun violence during their journey.
UN agencies estimate that around 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, are trapped in El Fasher, enduring over 500 days of siege without access to essential supplies. Reports indicate that some residents are resorting to consuming animal feed to survive.
Following security challenges and bombings, MSF withdrew from El Fasher in August 2024, leaving it as one of the few areas not under RSF control in Darfur. The situation in the city worsened, with limited medical resources and safety concerns for both patients and staff.
In Tawila, a significant number of displaced individuals from El Fasher and the Zamzam displacement camp have sought shelter, turning the area into a vast refugee camp. Reports of dire conditions within El Fasher’s remaining hospital, including the use of mosquito nets for wound dressings and shortages of medical supplies, have surfaced.
The conflict in Sudan, which escalated in April 2023, has led to ongoing clashes between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). The RSF’s focus on capturing El Fasher, the last SAF stronghold in Darfur, has heightened tensions, with civilian facilities increasingly becoming targets of attacks.
International monitors have accused both sides of committing atrocities, with the RSF tracing its roots back to the Janjaweed militias infamous for alleged genocide in Darfur. The ICC recently convicted a Janjaweed leader, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, for crimes against humanity in the region.
As the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to escalate, aid agencies face challenges in delivering essential supplies to the affected areas due to logistical obstacles and security threats along the supply routes. The need for immediate action to address the escalating violence and provide humanitarian assistance remains critical to prevent further suffering among the vulnerable population in Darfur.