The relentless conflict in Sudan’s North Darfur has escalated to catastrophic levels, with at least 782 civilians killed and over 1,100 wounded in a months-long siege of El-Fasher, the capital city of the region, according to a United Nations (UN) report released Friday.
A Nation Torn Apart by Conflict
Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal war since April of last year, pitting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti.
El-Fasher, home to more than two million people, has become a focal point of the violence, as the army fights to retain its last stronghold in the Darfur region. The once-thriving city has been reduced to ruins under constant shelling and airstrikes from both sides.
“The continuing siege of El-Fasher and the relentless fighting are devastating lives every day on a massive scale,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in a grim statement.
Humanitarian Catastrophe in Darfur
The UN report, based on interviews with survivors, paints a harrowing picture of the siege. The RSF has reportedly shelled densely populated areas since May, while the army has retaliated with airstrikes and artillery bombardments, further endangering civilian lives.
Recent Attacks
- Friday: RSF shelling struck the city’s main hospital, killing nine people and wounding 20, according to the World Health Organization.
- Wednesday: Further shelling on the hospital and nearby areas killed 10 civilians and injured 20, according to pro-democracy activists.
- Sunday: A paramilitary drone attack devastated the city center, leaving at least 38 people dead.
- Earlier this month, the RSF targeted the Zamzam displacement camp, killing six people and injuring 13. The camp, located south of El-Fasher, houses famine-stricken civilians fleeing the violence.
Turk issued an urgent warning about the potential for even greater atrocities:
“A large-scale attack on Zamzam or El-Fasher would catapult civilian suffering to catastrophic levels. All efforts must be taken, including by the international community, to prevent such an attack and to halt the siege.”
Widespread Devastation Across Sudan
The Darfur region is now almost entirely under RSF control, while the SAF maintains a tenuous hold over parts of northern and eastern Sudan. The country is reeling from the effects of this conflict:
- Tens of thousands of lives lost.
- Over 11 million people displaced.
- 26 million people at risk of starvation.
Both warring factions stand accused of heinous war crimes, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, medical facilities, and residential areas.
International Community’s Role
As Sudan teeters on the brink of collapse, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations have called for urgent action to prevent further atrocities.
A Cry for Humanity
The siege of El-Fasher is a grim reminder of the human cost of unchecked conflict. For millions of Sudanese civilians, survival now hinges on immediate international efforts to mediate peace, provide humanitarian aid, and hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.
