Main Article:
Khartoum, Sudan:
The humanitarian disaster in Sudan has deepened dramatically after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This critical victory for the RSF marks a turning point in the ongoing civil conflict that has devastated the country for over two years.
Residents describe the city as being in chaos, with heavy shelling, looting, and mass civilian displacement. Many hospitals have stopped operating, leaving wounded civilians without medical care. Water and electricity supplies have also been cut off in several areas.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 800,000 civilians are trapped in and around El-Fasher. Aid convoys have been unable to reach the city due to ongoing clashes and road blockages.
> “The humanitarian situation in Darfur is catastrophic. People are running out of food, medicine, and safe shelter,” said a UN spokesperson in a statement Monday.
Local activists report that RSF fighters have taken control of key facilities, including the main airport and government offices. Meanwhile, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have vowed to regroup and launch counterattacks in the coming days.
Thousands of families are fleeing west toward the Chadian border, seeking safety in overcrowded refugee camps. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that famine could soon hit parts of Darfur if aid doesn’t resume.
The RSF’s capture of El-Fasher, one of the last strongholds of the Sudanese army in Darfur, has raised concerns of ethnic violence and mass atrocities similar to those seen in the early 2000s.
International organizations, including the African Union, United Nations, and European Union, have called for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access. However, diplomatic efforts have so far failed to stop the violence.
Background:
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces erupted in April 2023, following a power struggle between Sudan’s military leaders. Since then, more than 12 million people have been displaced, and thousands have been killed.
The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), controls much of western and southern Sudan, while the army maintains positions in the east and parts of the capital, Khartoum.
Human rights groups have accused both sides of war crimes, including targeted attacks on civilians, mass sexual violence, and destruction of public infrastructure.
Global Reaction:
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the escalating violence, urging both sides to “put the people of Sudan first.”
The United States and European Union are reportedly considering additional sanctions against leaders of both factions to pressure them toward peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations are appealing for urgent international funding to assist millions displaced by the fighting.
Conclusion:
As RSF consolidates control over El-Fasher, fears grow that Sudan’s conflict may spiral into an even greater humanitarian disaster — one that threatens to destabilize the entire region.
The world watches as aid workers and civilians plead for help, hoping the international community acts before it’s too late.
A video showing members of the rebel Rapid Support Forces militia, as they practice torture, physical liquidation, and ethnic cleansing against unarmed citizens in the city of Ardamata in