The siege of El-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur State has led to over 700 civilian deaths since May and created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations (U.N.). “This alarming situation cannot continue. The Rapid Support Forces must end this horrible siege,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Friday.
The U.N. rights office documented at least 782 civilian deaths and more than 1,143 injuries since May, based partly on interviews with those who had fled the area. The casualties occurred amid frequent and intense shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in densely populated residential areas, as well as repeated airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces.
El-Fasher is one of the most active frontlines in the conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army and its allies, who are fighting to maintain their last stronghold in the Darfur region.
The Zamzam camp, located nine miles from El-Fasher, hosts over half a million displaced people, including many who fled earlier violence in Darfur. The camp has faced near-daily artillery attacks by the RSF over the past two weeks, killing 80 people and injuring nearly 400.
Doctors Without Borders and Relief International, the only international aid organizations still operating in the camp, report critical shortages of medical supplies and personnel. “We lack basic equipment, even iodine,” said one doctor. Severely injured patients must be referred to El-Fasher’s sole functioning hospital, a dangerous journey through RSF-controlled areas.
Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed an estimated 150,000 people and displaced over 12 million.
The U.N. has declared the situation in Zamzam a famine, with widespread starvation and malnutrition. Relief International reports that children in the camp are dying almost daily, with some forced to eat animal fodder and grass to survive.
It’s been months since substantive #food aid reached Zamzam camp in North #Darfur, despite a #famine declaration weeks ago. But yesterday distributions of food parcels finally started there, enough to help 3000 families at least.
It’s a start. A small, but symbolic one. One… pic.twitter.com/1XyeaY3p6N
— William Carter (@WillCarter_NRC) August 30, 2024
