People in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, are facing a terrible situation. Here are the key points:
- Fighting has been going on for over a year in Sudan
- Civilians in El Fasher are under attack and running out of supplies
- A humanitarian crisis is posing challenges for aid organizations.
- There are warnings of an impending famine in the region.
How bad has Darfur’s conflict become for El Fasher’s residents?
Residents Describe Living in Fear
The sounds of fighting in El Fasher have left people anxious and scared for their lives. In voice notes received by the BBC, residents describe the terrifying situation:
“We are lost, we don’t know which side is protecting us. We’re just staying and waiting for our destiny.”
“It’s very difficult to stay at home all day with bombs and bullets over your head. Sometimes you hear people crying, especially young children. It’s really terrifying.”
With supplies running low and the fighting not showing a clear end, there are concerns that people may not survive if the crisis continues.
Aid Efforts Severely Hampered
Providing aid and medical care has become extremely difficult. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had to close some facilities after a children’s hospitalย was bombed, killing two kids.
The one remaining hospital has taken in over 700 patients but only has supplies for 10 more days. An MSF staff member said, “We will soon be in shortage of medicine if the situation doesn’t change.”
Famine Threat Looms
Relief agencies have warned of an impending famine in Sudan as they struggle to get enough aid into the region. So far this year, only 39 aid trucks have made it to El Fasher.
With the fighting between the army and rebel forces showing no signs of stopping, the escalating crisis could lead to catastrophic levels of hunger and suffering.
A Longstanding Brutal Conflict
Both sides in Sudan’s civil war – the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – have been accused of committing war crimes.
The RSF, which vowed to keep fighting to control El Fasher, previously gained notoriety for attacking non-Arab groups in the Darfur region.
As the brutal conflict rages on after over a year, the future looks increasingly bleak for the besieged residents just trying to survive.
What more can be done to help end the violence and human suffering in Darfur? With supplies dwindling, how long can the crisis continue before it becomes a catastrophe?
