Desperation and Violence: War Crimes Threaten Civilians in El-Fasher, Sudan

As food supplies vanish and conflict escalates in Sudan's beleaguered city of el-Fasher, international observers warn of potential war crimes, prompting urgent humanitarian appeals.

Satellite imagery reveals that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan are intentionally targeting civilians, raising alarms from Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) about possible war crimes. Increased burial sites in the city signal a growing death toll as the RSF, which recently erected a defensive wall around el-Fasher, tightens its grip on the area.

Local resistance groups have reported that food has completely run out, stating that even alternative food sources, like animal feed, have become unavailable. There is nothing left to eat today - all food supplies have run out, said the resistance committee for el-Fasher in a recent statement.

The siege of el-Fasher, ongoing for 18 months, reflects the broader civil war that erupted in April 2023, pitting the RSF against the military. As civilians become increasingly isolated, reports indicate that people have been forced from displacement camps by violence and intimidation, now sheltering in increasingly perilous locations.

The city, home to around 300,000 residents, faces a humanitarian crisis as aid access is severely restricted. Observers have called for an immediate ceasefire and for humanitarian assistance to be allowed without threat of attack.

Despite these dire conditions, local voices are pleading for international intervention, highlighting a growing disconnect as their pleas go unheard amidst the chaos. A lack of essential supplies and ongoing bombardments have created a chilling narrative of survival in a city overwhelmed by violence.