In the latest escalation of violence in the western Darfur region of Sudan, the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has conducted multiple attacks on the city of el-Fasher, resulting in the deaths of over 30 individuals, according to a report from ZezapTV. The city’s significance lies in its position as a stronghold for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), as well as its role in housing displaced populations affected by prolonged conflict.
Activist groups, including the Resistance Committees in el-Fasher, have reported that the recent offensive, which involved heavy artillery shelling, left many residents injured and affected the local community significantly. Following the initial attack, the RSF resumed hostilities, specifically targeting residential structures and open markets in the city, which compounded the hardships faced by the civilian population. Observers have noted a pattern of increasing intensity in such attacks, particularly as the RSF has experienced setbacks in other regions such as Khartoum.
El-Fasher, a city located more than 800 kilometers southwest of the capital, Khartoum, is estimated to be home to over one million residents, many of whom have been displaced by ongoing conflicts. The humanitarian situation in Darfur has been described as dire; recent atrocities—such as a reported assault that resulted in over 400 fatalities—have led to widespread displacement and significant disruptions in aid supply chains.
Humanitarian organizations are expressing urgent concern regarding access to aid in the region, which has become increasingly restricted due to violence. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, highlighted the escalating crisis, speaking with leaders from both the SAF and the RSF to facilitate humanitarian access. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has further characterized the situation as catastrophic, particularly for the 825,000 children enduring adverse conditions amidst ongoing conflict.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, has articulated the pressing need for humanitarian organizations to be granted immediate and sustained access to el-Fasher to provide life-saving aid to vulnerable populations. Calls have been made for medical charities and other aid organizations to utilize airdrop assistance given the limitations on ground access.
This enduring conflict in Sudan, which began in mid-April 2023 following the collapse of a power-sharing agreement between key military leaders, has already resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, with estimates suggesting over 24,000 fatalities thus far— numbers that activists believe are likely underrepresentative of the true scale of the tragedy.
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