Aid agencies are grappling with the potential humanitarian crisis in El Fasher, Sudan, where the fall of the city to rebel forces has raised fears for the lives of tens of thousands of civilians. The powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), captured El Fasher on October 26, 2023, after an 18-month siege, leading to a mass exodus of residents seeking safety.
Reports indicate that over 62,000 people attempted to flee the city between Sunday and Wednesday of this week. However, only approximately 5,000 individuals have managed to reach the safety of a nearby refugee camp in Tawila, located 65 kilometres away, according to the United Nations migration agency. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which oversees the camp, expressed deep concern about the fate of the remaining civilians, many of whom are believed to still be trapped in the city.
Tragic accounts from witnesses describe a brutal campaign by RSF fighters, who allegedly conducted house-to-house searches, resulting in civilian casualties and reports of sexual violence. The World Health Organization reported that at least 460 individuals were killed in a hospital attack, where armed groups stormed the facility, abducting medical staff and opening fire on patients seeking refuge.
Communications within El Fasher have been disrupted, hindering aid efforts and complicating the retrieval of accurate information regarding the situation. As reports of violence continue to emerge, the total death toll remains uncertain. Satellite images taken since Sunday reveal disturbing evidence of widespread killings, with Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab identifying 31 clusters of objects consistent with human remains throughout the city.
The lab’s report highlights a concerning lack of civilian movement, indicating that few individuals may have survived to escape the violence. “This may indicate that there are few civilians alive and able to escape,” the report stated. The ongoing crisis in El Fasher underscores the dire humanitarian situation in the region, as aid agencies race to assess the full extent of the tragedy and provide support to those in desperate need.
