Ahmed Abdul Rahman can hear the thud of artillery from where he lies in a makeshift cluster of tents in the Sudanese city of el-Fasher. The 13-year-old boy was injured in a recent shelling attack. I feel pain in my head and my legs, he says weakly. For 17 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have besieged el-Fasher, located in their ethnic heartland of Darfur, and now they're closing in on key military sites in the city.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in 2023 due to a power struggle between the top commanders of the RSF and the Sudanese army. After losing control of Khartoum, the paramilitaries have intensified efforts to seize el-Fasher—the army's last stronghold in the western Darfur region. The territory held by the army has diminished to a shrinking pocket surrounded by a collapsing network of humanitarian aid, leaving tens of thousands of civilians trapped and terrified in their homes.
His whole body is full of shrapnel, desperately states Ahmed's mother, Islam Abdullah, amid scarce medical care. The situation reflects a broader humanitarian crisis, as civilians face starvation and fear amidst relentless violence.
Nearby, Hamida Adam Ali struggles to find solace; she has been unable to move since a shell hit her leg, leaving her suffering in the street for days. Her children are hungry and petrified, and she has no knowledge of her husband's fate.
The RSF have made significant advances in recent weeks, evidenced by videos that show their fighters asserting control over strategic military locations. The army’s last defenses remain at risk as RSF fighters leverage new weaponry, further endangering civilian lives.
Local armed groups engaging alongside the army are equally invested in the outcome, as Darfur represents not only a battleground but a vital lifeline for their existence. The RSF advance is attributed to increasingly sophisticated drones alleged to be supplied by the United Arab Emirates, exacerbating the civilian suffering and devastation.
The UNanticipates further atrocities if the RSF successfully overrun el-Fasher, and the lives of countless civilians like Ahmed and Hamida are increasingly fraught with peril.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in 2023 due to a power struggle between the top commanders of the RSF and the Sudanese army. After losing control of Khartoum, the paramilitaries have intensified efforts to seize el-Fasher—the army's last stronghold in the western Darfur region. The territory held by the army has diminished to a shrinking pocket surrounded by a collapsing network of humanitarian aid, leaving tens of thousands of civilians trapped and terrified in their homes.
His whole body is full of shrapnel, desperately states Ahmed's mother, Islam Abdullah, amid scarce medical care. The situation reflects a broader humanitarian crisis, as civilians face starvation and fear amidst relentless violence.
Nearby, Hamida Adam Ali struggles to find solace; she has been unable to move since a shell hit her leg, leaving her suffering in the street for days. Her children are hungry and petrified, and she has no knowledge of her husband's fate.
The RSF have made significant advances in recent weeks, evidenced by videos that show their fighters asserting control over strategic military locations. The army’s last defenses remain at risk as RSF fighters leverage new weaponry, further endangering civilian lives.
Local armed groups engaging alongside the army are equally invested in the outcome, as Darfur represents not only a battleground but a vital lifeline for their existence. The RSF advance is attributed to increasingly sophisticated drones alleged to be supplied by the United Arab Emirates, exacerbating the civilian suffering and devastation.
The UNanticipates further atrocities if the RSF successfully overrun el-Fasher, and the lives of countless civilians like Ahmed and Hamida are increasingly fraught with peril.
