El Fasher: A City Under Siege in Sudan’s Civil War
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Darfur
In the heart of Sudan’s Darfur region, the city of El Fasher stands as a stark symbol of the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has gripped the nation for over two years. Once a bustling urban center, El Fasher is now a battleground, besieged by paramilitary forces and facing dire shortages of food and medical supplies. The situation has escalated to the point where the last functioning hospital in the city has been bombed over 30 times, leaving the local population in a state of desperation.
Dr. Omar Selik, a physician in El Fasher, recently shared a harrowing account of the conditions faced by residents. In a video call, he revealed that he and his colleagues are consuming animal feed, a sludgy paste typically reserved for livestock, as their only source of sustenance. “Even we’re eating animal feed,” he lamented, highlighting the severity of the crisis. Each day, between 30 and 40 severely malnourished children arrive at the hospital, seeking help that is increasingly difficult to provide.
The Siege of El Fasher
El Fasher has become the focal point of a brutal civil war that erupted in Sudan in April 2023, following clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. The RSF, which has its roots in the Janjaweed militias that perpetrated atrocities during the Darfur genocide in the early 2000s, has been accused of employing similar tactics in its current campaign. The group has constructed a 30-kilometer earthen wall around the city, effectively trapping its residents and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The siege has left the population with few options: stay and risk starvation or bombardment, or attempt to flee and face the dangers of violence, robbery, or sexual assault. Dr. Selik expressed a profound sense of abandonment, stating, “People seem to have forgotten us.” His emotional plea underscores the urgent need for international attention and intervention.
A Humanitarian Catastrophe
The war has displaced approximately 12 million people across Sudan, with tens of thousands reported dead. The United Nations has labeled the situation as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. In El Fasher alone, more than 500,000 people have fled since April, following a massacre in the nearby Zamzam camp that left hundreds dead. The RSF’s relentless advance has further tightened the siege, leaving an estimated 260,000 residents trapped within the city.
The cost of basic necessities has skyrocketed; a kilogram of pasta now sells for $73, ten times its normal price. Taha Khater, one of the few remaining aid workers in El Fasher, reported that 14 children have died from malnutrition in just the past two weeks. The spread of cholera adds another layer of urgency to the crisis, as the healthcare system collapses under the weight of the conflict.
Attacks on Humanitarian Efforts
Efforts to deliver aid to El Fasher have been met with violence. United Nations food convoys have been attacked by drones, with one strike in June resulting in the deaths of five aid workers. The situation has made it nearly impossible for humanitarian organizations to provide the necessary support to the beleaguered population.
Young men attempting to escape the city have been executed by RSF fighters, further deterring any attempts at fleeing. Meanwhile, Tawila, a small town 60 kilometers away, has become a refuge for over 600,000 displaced individuals, but the journey there is fraught with peril. Aid workers report that the road is littered with hastily dug graves and abandoned bodies, a grim testament to the dangers that lie ahead.
The Role of Foreign Powers
The conflict in Sudan has drawn in foreign interests, complicating the situation further. Reports indicate that the United Arab Emirates has supplied the RSF with weapons, drones, and medical support, aiming to bolster the group’s position in the ongoing struggle. The Sudanese military has accused the Emirates of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight alongside the RSF, a claim that has been met with denials from Emirati officials.
The international community has been slow to respond effectively to the crisis. Diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting have yielded little progress, and the UN Security Council’s calls for an end to the siege have gone largely unheeded. The situation remains dire, with civilians caught in the crossfire of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
The Human Cost of War
As the siege continues, hospitals in El Fasher are under constant threat. The Al Saudi hospital, the last remaining medical facility, is overwhelmed and under-resourced. Dr. Suleman, a senior doctor at the hospital, reported that the facility has been targeted more than 30 times, with the worst attack occurring in January when a drone strike killed 70 patients and staff.
Doctors now find themselves sheltering in makeshift foxholes during bombing raids, while malnourished patients are sustained on animal feed, known locally as ambaz. This desperate measure poses its own risks, as the feed is prone to fungal contamination, leading to further health complications. At least 18 residents have died in recent weeks after consuming it.
Ethnic Tensions and Fears of Genocide
The RSF’s advance into El Fasher has raised alarms about potential ethnic violence, particularly against the Zaghawa people, an ethnic group that has historically faced persecution in the region. Human rights organizations warn that if the RSF takes full control of the city, it could lead to an ethnic massacre reminiscent of the atrocities committed during the Darfur genocide.
The plight of civilians like Salwa Ahmed, who fled her home only to lose her husband in the chaos, illustrates the personal toll of the conflict. “We don’t know if he’s dead or alive,” she said, capturing the uncertainty and fear that permeates the lives of those caught in the conflict.
Conclusion
The situation in El Fasher is a microcosm of the broader humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where millions are suffering from the consequences of a brutal civil war. As international attention wanes, the need for urgent action has never been more critical. The world must not forget the people of El Fasher and the countless others affected by this devastating conflict. The time for intervention is now, before the situation deteriorates further and the cries for help go unanswered.
