Over 130 people have died at Médecins Sans Frontières’ (MSF) facility in El Fasher, Darfur, amidst escalating conflict.
Agencies warn a severe humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Sudan.
The city is under Sudan’s army control, but is the scene of a battleground between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with recent intensified clashes causing widespread casualties and displacement.
MSF reported treating nearly a thousand injured in just over two weeks at South Hospital, with essential supplies expected to last barely a week. The increased violence, including targeting residential areas and essential infrastructure like hospitals and markets, has drastically hindered access to necessary services and safety for the residents, the organisation has said.
The situation in El Fasher, described as “terrible” by locals, is worsening, with the RSF’s renewed offensive marking a grim new phase in the conflict.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres referred to this as “an alarming new chapter” in Sudan’s turmoil. The fighting has not only led to significant loss of life but also raised concerns of potential genocide in Darfur, as indicated by a UN expert. With the city besieged on multiple fronts and supply routes cut off, the residents face dire shortages of food and water, making survival increasingly precarious amid the ongoing violence.
