The ongoing conflict in Sudan has worsened to alarming levels, with many displaced individuals resorting to eating charcoal and leaves as they flee violence from paramilitary attacks near el-Fasher. Aid agencies warn of deteriorating humanitarian conditions as thousands struggle for basic necessities amidst continued fighting.
Dire Conditions in Sudan: Survivors Resort to Extreme Measures Amid Conflict
Dire Conditions in Sudan: Survivors Resort to Extreme Measures Amid Conflict
Humanitarian crisis deepens in Darfur as displaced Sudanese resort to consuming charcoal and leaves for survival after fleeing violence.
Displaced groups in Sudan are facing unimaginable hardships as they flee violence, with reports of individuals consuming leaves and charcoal to survive. The Norwegian Refugee Council shared harrowing accounts of those escaping from the Zamzam camp near el-Fasher, revealing that many do not make it to safety. Noah Taylor, the Council's head of operations, highlighted the treacherous 40 km journey to Tawila, where some perish from thirst and exhaustion in the sweltering heat.
The conflict in the region escalated when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked the Zamzam camp, forcing residents who had already suffered for two decades through previous conflicts to abandon their homes once again. Since the onset of the RSF's fighting with the army two years ago, approximately 150,000 people are estimated to have died, and 13 million others have been displaced. As per the UN, this has been classified as one of the worst humanitarian crises globally.
Compounding the crisis, international aid has dwindled, with the UN having to reduce food assistance due to funding shortfalls. The consequences are dire; people are starving as they escape violence, and many accounts include stories of sexual violence and overall insecurity in the region.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy raised alarms over the RSF's actions, describing them as exhibiting "hallmarks of ethnic cleansing" and potentially qualifying as crimes against humanity. He called on all parties involved to ensure that humanitarian actors can safely deliver essential aid to those in need.
UN projections indicate that the human toll may be even greater than recorded, with substantial casualties reported since early April. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the situation, noting that medical personnel face serious dangers and critical infrastructure for aid is being systematically destroyed.
The town of Tawila is struggling under the weight of an estimated 130,000 to 150,000 additional displaced individuals, all while experiencing severe shortages of food and water. Accounts from those fleeing reveal burning homes and ongoing violence as the RSF also engages in attacks elsewhere in Sudan, further complicating the already dire conditions faced by many in the war-torn nation.
