In brief
Witnesses report that the RSF launched a major offensive in el-Fasher, taking control of a cattle market and a prison, as the humanitarian situation in the city deteriorates. With over 150,000 dead and millions displaced, residents plead for urgent assistance amidst relentless violence.
The Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unleashed significant violence on the beleaguered city of el-Fasher on Friday, marking the first large-scale incursion into the city since the onset of its siege 15 months ago. This aggressive maneuver saw RSF militants storm the cattle market, a prison, and a military base, reportedly broadcasting videos of their occupation through social media. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the intense battle lasted seven hours. Following the RSF's initial success, the Sudanese army orchestrated a counterattack on Saturday, reportedly pushing the RSF fighters beyond the city's limits and inflicting "heavy losses." However, persistent shelling, including drone attacks, continued throughout the weekend, contributing to a harrowing reality for residents.Mathilde Vu from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) described el-Fasher as a "death trap," filled with heart-wrenching stories of civilians living in terror amidst near-constant shelling and escalating humanitarian needs. Local volunteers have been risking their lives to deliver vital food supplies to those facing starvation, a harsh reality painted vividly by Siddig Omar, a 65-year-old resident detailing the unending violence.Amid the chaos, the conflict that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 has led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 12 million people displaced and more than 150,000 lives lost. The city's current circumstances have left citizens devoid of basic necessities; food shortages are rampant, and health services are effectively non-existent.As the RSF continues to engage in aggressive warfare, the people of el-Fasher find themselves trapped within a nightmarish environment, relying on scarce resources. With hospitals devoid of medicines and markets empty of food, desperate calls for international assistance resound among the beleaguered populace.The RSF offensive comes after a series of artillery attacks, raising alarms within the international community as the allegations of war crimes intensify. With significant displacement resulting from the violence, the humanitarian needs in places like the nearby town of Tawila are escalating—where an outbreak of cholera and impending seasonal flooding compound the unfolding crisis.In desperate appeals, residents urge the international community to recognize and respond to their struggles, highlighting the severe degradation of living conditions. With the International Criminal Court citing reasonable grounds to suspect war crimes in Darfur, the pressing need for intervention has never been more critical, as the enduring silence continues to suffocate the cries for help from the region.
