Humanitarian disaster worsens after RSF capture of el-Fasher
Millions across Sudan — especially in the west — urgently need humanitarian assistance as fighting and lawlessness continue following the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) takeover of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The assault came after an 18-month siege in which humanitarian access was restricted and civilians faced deliberate deprivation, and aid groups describe the current situation as catastrophic.
People trapped, information blackout
Tens of thousands of civilians are believed to remain trapped in el-Fasher, reported to be the last major western Darfur city to fall to the RSF, while thousands more who fled are still unaccounted for. Only a small proportion of those who walked out have reached Tawila, roughly 50 km (30 miles) away. Aid groups say up to 15,000 people may be stranded in surrounding villages and along roads that remain inaccessible because of insecurity.
Caroline Bouvard, Sudan country director for Solidarites International, told Al Jazeera from Tawila: “Those are very small numbers considering the number of people who were stuck in el-Fasher. We keep hearing feedback that people are stuck on the roads and in different villages that are unfortunately still inaccessible due to security reasons.”
Bouvard warned of a “complete blackout” of reliable information from inside el-Fasher since the RSF takeover, forcing agencies to rely on reports from surrounding areas.
Reports of atrocities and displacement
Many of those who reached Tawila after evading RSF checkpoints reported witnessing mass executions, torture, beatings and sexual violence. Several people said they were abducted and forced to pay ransoms under threat of death. Large numbers of displaced families have also moved to the al-Dabbah camp in the Northern State, where overcrowding and lack of services are worsening conditions.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan reported from al-Dabbah that arrivals from el-Fasher have increased in recent days, placing acute pressure on food, clean water, medical supplies and shelter. Many displaced people are sleeping outdoors and face heightened risk of disease and exposure.
Calls for access and international response
International aid organizations have urged both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF to allow unhindered humanitarian access. Mediators — including the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt — have condemned mass killings and called for expanded relief operations.
In a Saturday statement referencing earlier atrocities in West Darfur, the US Department of State said: “The RSF must stop engaging in retribution and ethnic violence; the tragedy in El Geneina must not be repeated.” The State Department further warned that there is no viable military solution and urged both parties to pursue negotiated options to end civilian suffering.
U.S. lawmakers have also pressed for a stronger response. Republican Senator Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on Friday for the U.S. to consider formally designating the RSF as a foreign terrorist organization.
Humanitarian priorities
Relief organizations say immediate priorities are: safe humanitarian corridors, authorization to deliver food and medical supplies, evacuation or protection for civilians trapped in or near el-Fasher, and independent monitoring to verify reports of atrocities. Without secure access and international pressure on the warring parties, aid agencies warn the humanitarian crisis will deepen in the coming days and weeks.
