The United Nations has described Sudan’s El-Fasher as a “crime scene” after gaining access to the largely deserted city for the first time since its takeover by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in October. International aid staff visited El-Fasher and found few people remaining, with survivors reporting ethnically motivated mass killings and widespread detentions.
The city, once densely populated with a large displaced population, is now a shadow of its former self. Over 100,000 residents fled for their lives after the RSF seized control, and those who remained are sheltering in empty buildings or under basic plastic sheets. The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, has warned of an “unprecedented level” of child malnutrition in North Darfur, with 53% of 500 children screened acutely malnourished.
The Humanitarian Crisis
The situation in El-Fasher is dire, with reports of mass killings, sexual violence, and starvation. The RSF has been accused of systematically erasing evidence of mass killings, and satellite imagery shows that 72% of clusters containing human remains have become smaller, while 38% are no longer visible.
The Sudan Doctors Network reports that over 200 people, including children and women, were killed on ethnic grounds by the RSF in recent offensives. The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire, and the international community is urging Sudan’s military leaders to pursue peace.
Displacement and Humanitarian Needs
An estimated 107,000 people have been displaced from El-Fasher and surrounding areas, with 72% remaining within North Darfur state. Roughly three-quarters of those displaced were already internally displaced people (IDPs) who had fled previous violence.
The war in Sudan has killed over 100,000 people and displaced 14 million, including 4.3 million who have fled to neighboring countries. The UN estimates that 30.4 million Sudanese now need humanitarian assistance.
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