United Nations humanitarian agencies have warned that the essentials for survival in El Fasher have been completely destroyed after the town was overrun by Rapid Support Forces fighters in October following a prolonged siege. With communications largely cut off, limited information from the ground indicates catastrophic conditions, with between 70,000 and 100,000 people believed to be trapped inside the city. Survivors’ accounts and satellite imagery point to mass killings, ethnic-based executions and extreme hunger, with residents previously reduced to eating animal feed and food scraps to survive.
The UN Secretary-General has condemned the continuing violence against civilians, expressing alarm over reports of a deadly drone strike in South Darfur that killed at least 30 people. He has reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, renewed peace talks and strict adherence to international humanitarian law, while urging countries with influence over the warring parties to help stop the fighting and the flow of weapons.
Humanitarian agencies say securing access to El Fasher is now an urgent priority, as testimonies describe the city as devastated by mass atrocities, destroyed infrastructure and abandoned markets. The World Food Programme has indicated that an agreement in principle has been reached with the Rapid Support Forces on minimum conditions to allow aid teams to enter the city, enabling initial assessments and life-saving assistance after more than a year and a half of siege.
Those who have fled El Fasher have faced deadly risks from landmines and unexploded ordnance, with many seeking refuge in Tawila, a former desert town that has rapidly transformed into a vast displacement site hosting more than 650,000 people. Others have escaped to northern areas such as Ad Dabbah, while aid convoys supported by the WFP are on their way to Tawila with food assistance intended to support around 700,000 people for a month amid widespread hunger, disease outbreaks and inadequate shelter.
The crisis in Sudan continues to deepen, with more than 12 million people displaced nationwide, making it the world’s largest displacement emergency. The security situation has also deteriorated in Kordofan, where recent fighting has forced tens of thousands to flee, while civilians remain trapped in besieged cities with limited escape routes. UN agencies warn that humanitarian access remains severely constrained and resources are critically overstretched as needs continue to rise.
