Thousands continue to be killed and displaced in Sudan as the nation’s civil war rages on.
The situation has become increasingly desperate in El Fasher, where people have resorted to eating animal feed and animal skins due to an extreme food shortage.
The south-western city has become a key location in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and was the last city in the Darfur region to fall to the RSF following an 18-month siege.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) partners told en that RSF militants are accused of grave human rights violations, following reports of summary executions, the use of mass graves, extortion, and the targeting of women and girls.
They also revealed that places of worship are repeatedly targeted by the RSF, with recent incidents including bombings of the Sudanese Episcopal Church, the African Inland Church and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as an attack on a mosque. Some are now allegedly being used for military purposes.
With thousands believed to have been killed in just days, the partners described the humanitarian need surrounding El Fasher as “significant." However, they also revealed that RSF advances elsewhere raise further questions about how the crisis can be resolved.
They said: “The RSF’s capture of El Fasher and advance in Kordofan increases the possibility of two administrations, if not two states, in Sudan, as the forces almost control the entire west of the country, with borders with five neighbouring countries.”
Speaking of some of the biggest challenges facing El Fasher, they said: “Poor communication networks are making it difficult for people to hear from family members and friends who were in the city.
“Humanitarian organisations are also finding it challenging to confirm the whereabouts of staff and volunteers who were in El Fasher. They are relying on information from those who are able to reach Tawila to confirm what [has] occurred.”
