The Perilous Struggle to Deliver Aid in Famine-Stricken Al Fashir, Sudan
In the heart of Tine’s central market, close to the volatile border between North Darfur and Chad, a chilling video reveals the grim reality faced by young men attempting to smuggle food into Al Fashir, a city besieged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The footage shows these men, covered in sand and fear, being interrogated about their smuggling activities. Their answers-“rice” and “pasta”-are met with threats of violence from their captor, who mockingly pretends to execute them. This harrowing scene underscores the extreme risks involved in delivering essential supplies to a region on the brink of famine.
The Humanitarian Crisis in Al Fashir
Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, is currently home to nearly 900,000 people facing starvation due to a blockade enforced by the RSF. The situation has deteriorated rapidly since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, which saw long-standing tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupt into violence. The RSF’s siege has not only restricted access to food but has also subjected the city to relentless drone strikes and shelling, creating a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ahmed and Hassan, two local volunteers who spoke under pseudonyms for their safety, coordinate a network of smugglers risking their lives to deliver food and medical supplies. “The situation in Al Fashir is catastrophic,” Ahmed states, surrounded by towering stacks of flour sacks. “We have no option but to offer what we can for people to eat and survive the shelling.”
The Risks of Smuggling
The dangers of smuggling food into Al Fashir are immense. Routes frequently change due to ongoing battles, and many volunteers have gone missing, presumed dead. Ahmed and Hassan report that they have lost 30 volunteers in just the first week of September. The three young men featured in the video remain unaccounted for, highlighting the perilous nature of their work.
Hassan recounts a recent incident where a team of twelve was split into smaller groups to navigate the treacherous landscape. While two teams successfully reached their destination, one group vanished without a trace. “We have to count him among the dead,” Hassan laments, referring to a volunteer who was last known to be smuggling insulin.
The Siege of Al Fashir
The RSF’s blockade has effectively suffocated Al Fashir, aiming to establish control over the Darfur region as a base for their parallel government. The humanitarian situation is dire, with close to a million people facing famine. The RSF has fortified their siege with a physical barrier-a raised earth mound, or berm, that is visible from space, as noted by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths, with nearly 12 million people displaced. Despite numerous attempts at mediation, no humanitarian access mechanisms have been established, leaving civilians to fend for themselves amid the chaos.
Attacks on Humanitarian Efforts
The RSF’s aggression extends beyond targeting volunteers; they have also attacked aid convoys attempting to deliver food. In June, a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy was ambushed, resulting in the deaths of five personnel and the destruction of several food trucks. Such incidents have made it increasingly difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate in the region.
Laurent Bukera, the WFP’s country director for Sudan, emphasizes the challenges faced in securing safe passage for aid. “For months, the UN has been trying to secure guarantees for a humanitarian pause allowing safe delivery to the city,” he explains. However, the RSF has yet to communicate any support for such measures.
Calls for Airdrops
In light of the dire circumstances, volunteers like Ahmed and Hassan are advocating for food airdrops, similar to those conducted in conflict zones like Gaza and South Sudan. “We need safe humanitarian passage for the delivery of aid-by road or by air drop,” Hassan insists. However, the logistics of airdrops are fraught with challenges, including high costs and the risk of drone strikes.
Bukera acknowledges the difficulties, stating that airdrops are “up to 10 times more expensive and extremely risky.” The absence of a humanitarian pause has deterred pilots from taking the risk, leaving the people of Al Fashir in a precarious situation.
The Role of Volunteers
The network of volunteers in Sudan has its roots in the resistance committees formed during the 2019 revolution, which aimed to organize and assist protesters. Now, these brave individuals bear the heavy burden of providing food and medical care to war-impacted civilians across the country. Their commitment to humanitarian efforts is unwavering, even in the face of death.
“If we don’t do it, it’ll be a slow genocide,” Hassan states resolutely. “So, better to die trying. We have no other option but to take these risks.”
Conclusion
The humanitarian crisis in Al Fashir is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of conflict on civilian populations. As the RSF continues to enforce a brutal blockade, the efforts of local volunteers to deliver food and medical supplies become increasingly perilous. The international community faces a moral imperative to intervene and facilitate safe passage for humanitarian aid, lest the situation deteriorate further into a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. The resilience of these young volunteers stands as a testament to the human spirit, even in the darkest of times.
