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Sudan: RSF occupies last major city in Darfur – humanitarian catastrophe!
In Sudan, the power struggle between Burhan and Daglo escalates as the RSF controls El Fasher - humanitarian crisis worsens.
Sudan: RSF occupies last major city in Darfur – humanitarian catastrophe!
The situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate. Since April 2023, a bitter power struggle has been raging between the de facto ruler Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary RSF (Rapid Reaction Force), Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Control of the country is increasingly contested. The current situation is particularly dramatic in the Darfur region, where the RSF recently captured the last major city controlled by the government, El Fasher. This city is home to around 300,000 civilians who are now in acute danger, as Bietigheimer Zeitung reports.
On Monday, the Sudanese army confirmed its withdrawal from El Fasher. But the RSF announced full control of the city and an important army post on Sunday. As the army tried to justify its withdrawal, tense reports of fighting and casualties have been heard on both sides. It is feared that the RSF's capture of El Fasher could lead to serious violence, including killings and ethnic cleansing, which is likely to further deepen the humanitarian crisis, as Tagesspiegel notes.
The humanitarian catastrophe
The scale of the humanitarian crisis is frightening. It is estimated that up to 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and over 26 million people, nearly half of Sudan's population, are at risk of starvation. The UN describes this situation as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, and over 12 million people are now displaced. Living conditions for the remaining civilians in Darfur, especially in towns like El Fasher, are catastrophic. Aid organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the International Rescue Committee are faced with an almost impossible task as the demand for support far exceeds their capacity.
Thousands are reportedly fleeing El Fasher to neighboring areas such as Tawila, which are already overwhelmed with displaced people. All age groups are represented in the flight, but the majority are women and children. As SRF documents, conditions in refugee camps are extremely poor: there is a dramatic increase in malnourished children, and many need urgent medical attention.
A look into the future
The ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises in Sudan also have far-reaching implications for neighboring countries and possibly even Europe. The refugee wave is becoming a serious geopolitical issue. People like Moataz Mohammed Osman from Darfur dream of a better life and plan to study medicine in Europe. With such painful fates in mind, it is hardly surprising that the international community is being asked to do more to protect civilians and improve aid services.
Developments in Sudan require urgent attention and solidarity from outside. The hope for peace and stability in one of the world's poorest regions currently seems a distant future. But it is all the more important to hear the voices of those affected and not to allow the humanitarian situation to be forgotten.