Concerns Mount Over Civilians Trapped in Sudan's El-Fasher Amid RSF Seizure

Following the Rapid Support Forces' (RSF) recent capture of El-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, humanitarian organizations express deep concern for the tens of thousands of civilians who remain trapped in the city. Reports indicate that only a few thousand individuals have managed to flee to safety.

The RSF seized control of El-Fasher after an 18-month siege, leading to widespread reports of atrocities against civilians, including killings, beatings, and sexual assaults. The World Health Organization has reported at least 460 deaths within the city's hospital.

The United Nations International Organization for Migration estimates that over 8,000 people were displaced from El-Fasher over a recent weekend, bringing the total number of displaced individuals since the RSF's takeover to approximately 70,894. However, less than 6,000 have reached the nearest camp in Tawila, located 65 kilometers away. Shashwat Saraf, Sudan director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, noted that the numbers are still very few, stating, "We are not seeing the hundreds of thousands that we were expecting. If people are still in El-Fasher, it will be very difficult for them to survive."

Survivors who have reached Tawila recount harrowing experiences, including being shot at while fleeing. Many arrive disoriented, dehydrated, and with physical injuries. Saraf also reported that around 170 unaccompanied children, some as young as three years old, have arrived at the camp without knowledge of their families' whereabouts.

In response to the situation, Sudan's ambassador in Cairo, Imadeldin Mustafa Adawi, accused the RSF of committing war crimes in El-Fasher and called on the international community to designate the group as a terrorist organization. He urged immediate and effective action beyond mere statements of condemnation.

The conflict between the RSF and Sudan's armed forces, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and displaced more than 14 million people. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with aid organizations struggling to meet the needs of those affected.