Residents of El-Fasher, Sudan, seek refuge underground amid ongoing civil war, facing mounting violence from the RSF and dire humanitarian conditions. Local families construct makeshift bunkers to escape artillery fire while medical facilities struggle to provide care. Experts warn of a potential famine as aid diminishes and violence escalates, underscoring the urgent need for international support in the besieged city.
In El-Fasher, a city besieged by the ongoing civil war in Sudan, residents, including Nafisa Malik and her five children, seek refuge underground. Amidst the constant threat of artillery, they huddle in makeshift shelters, with Ms. Malik describing the experience as one where “time slows down.” Since the onset of this conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan’s Army, which has persisted for nearly two years, the human toll has reached tens of thousands. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has characterized the situation as a “crisis of staggering scale and brutality.”
Recently, shelling in El-Obeid, a nearby city, resulted in casualties and reinforced the violence faced across Darfur. El-Fasher, the bastion of North Darfur State with strategic importance, has become a focal point of conflict as the RSF seeks to control it following the Army’s reclaiming of other regions. Many residents, like Mohammed Ibrahim, have resorted to digging bunkers to safeguard their families from frequent bombardments.
Despite dwindling supply lines due to the RSF’s siege, the Army and their allied Joint Forces maintain significant control over most of El-Fasher. Research conducted by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab highlights the pervasive destruction caused by both RSF artillery and Sudanese Army strikes across the city, particularly affecting residential areas.
The humanitarian crisis extends beyond the physical destruction; medical facilities such as the Saudi Hospital have endeavored to sustain operations under dire conditions by constructing underground shelters. Historically a powerful region, El-Fasher now finds itself pivotal in the ongoing conflict as resources drive the RSF’s actions.
Experts warn of the existential threat posed to the Zaghawa ethnic group in the region, who have aligned with the Army as opposition against the RSF. This complex interplay of alliances complicates the military strategy and raises concerns about the repercussions of losing El-Fasher to the RSF. Current assessments indicate a looming famine affecting displacement camps, as humanitarian efforts are crippled by ongoing violence and logistical challenges, escalating the potential for widespread starvation.
With warnings of catastrophic fallout if aid continues to be impeded, the people of El-Fasher are caught in a desperate struggle for survival amid a brutal civil war, highlighting their urgent need for international attention and support.
The ongoing civil war in Darfur has led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, particularly in the besieged city of El-Fasher. Residents are forced underground to escape constant artillery strikes, and the decline of humanitarian aid exacerbates their plight. The strategic significance of El-Fasher in the conflict highlights the heightened risks for its inhabitants, especially the Zaghawa community, as the city remains under threat from paramilitary forces. The situation demands urgent global intervention to address the human suffering and looming famine that threatens many lives.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
