El-Fasher siege: Sudan in the midst of a tremendous humanitarian crisis.

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Sudan is currently facing one of the most severe emergencies worldwide: the State is devastated by the conflict that has broken out for more than two years, starting in April 2023. The fighting began in Khartoum, between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but rapidly spread throughout the whole country. 

The outcomes of this armed conflict are extremely alarming. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 12 million people have been forcibly displaced during the war, with around 4 million refugees fleeing to neighbouring countries. Furthermore, 30 million people require humanitarian assistance, as essential services such as healthcare and education have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict. Indeed, it is estimated that “14 out of 17 million school-aged children are out of school”. 

The situation worsened when the RSF led a siege on El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under SAF control, in May 2024. Back then, the metropolis hosted one and a half million citizens, including thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had fled other parts of the Darfur region. 

Over the last few months, the situation in El Fasher worsened, as fighting has intensified. In 2024, famine had already been confirmed, with an overall catastrophic situation, and right now, “thousands are at imminent risk of death without immediate food and nutrition assistance”. In September, 23 people died of malnutrition, among them five pregnant women and children, the latter being the hardest hit. Moreover, another concerning issue is the spreading of preventable diseases, such as cholera and measles. 

Another extremely concerning data point is the systematic sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls, including young children, across all areas of conflict. Indeed, both sides are currently accused of committing atrocities, such as ethnic cleansing and extrajudicial killings, against the civilian population. 

Last Sunday, the city fell after 18 months of siege: at least 1500 people have been killed, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, a Sudanese medical group, which testifies to how the RSF is committing “mass killings, detaining people and attacking hospitals”. 

The overall situation appears catastrophic, and the recent events have exacerbated it. Furthermore, it is crucial to highlight how the international community appears unable to intervene effectively. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has received alarming reports of crimes committed against civilians and humanitarian workers as well, and calls for “independent, prompt, transparent and thorough investigations” into international law. 

Moreover, it also repeats its call to other States with influence on the fighting parties to act, especially by halting the flow of arms; Human Rights Watch (HRW), as well, asked the European Union and the UK to impose sanctions, while it urgently demanded that the UAE uses ”its leverage to demand the RSF end their attacks against civilians”. 

written by Alice Scotti