The city of al-Fashir, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in western Darfur, is under relentless attack from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Constant artillery and drone strikes have plunged the city into a humanitarian catastrophe, leaving hundreds of thousands trapped without electricity, medical care, or access to food.
The battle for control of al-Fashir is part of a broader civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and RSF, former allies turned rivals. If the RSF captures the city, it will control nearly all of Darfur, positioning the group for potential dominance over western Sudan.
Starvation, Attacks, and Displacement Escalate as Civilians Trapped in Al-Fashir Suffer
As fighting intensifies, residents face worsening conditions with famine looming. Many people, including displaced individuals living in camps, have resorted to eating animal feed or grass due to the collapse of food supply chains.
Aid convoys have been blocked or attacked by the RSF, while food prices for smuggled goods have soared beyond affordability. Medical personnel report mass malnutrition among both children and adults, with a growing death toll. Despite desperate needs, humanitarian access remains extremely limited.
Fleeing al-Fashir offers little relief. Civilians attempting to escape are being ambushed by RSF fighters who rob, assault, and kill. Survivors describe harrowing journeys through villages like Shagra and Tawila, where people have been murdered and young women abducted.
Tawila, now sheltering over half a million displaced individuals, lacks adequate food, shelter, and safety. An attack on a group of fleeing civilians recently left at least 14 dead and dozens injured, underlining the extreme danger of movement in the region.
Rainy Season Triggers Cholera Outbreak as Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis Worsen in Sudan
The rainy season has further compounded the crisis by triggering a cholera outbreak among the displaced. With poor sanitation, little access to clean water, and no proper shelter, the risk of disease is high. Since mid-June, over 2,500 cholera cases have been recorded, with at least 52 deaths.
Aid organizations report that only a small fraction of Tawila’s population has access to basic sanitation or clean drinking water. The few families that receive food aid say it’s sporadic and insufficient to survive.
Despite calls from the United Nations for a humanitarian pause in al-Fashir, the RSF has rejected any ceasefire. Meanwhile, conflict continues to spread beyond Darfur into the Kordofan region, as both factions vie to solidify territorial control.
Mediation efforts have stalled, and aid organizations remain overwhelmed amid international funding cuts. With Sudan entering its third year of civil war, the country is rapidly descending into one of the world’s most pressing and underreported humanitarian disasters.
