The UN has called for safe passage for trapped civilians out of the Sudanese city of el-Fasher after paramilitary fighters announced they had seized control of the army's main base there. Sudan's military has not acknowledged the loss of the site, which would be a significant victory for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the ongoing civil war. UN chief Antonio Guterres said the latest fighting marked a terrible escalation in the conflict, adding that the suffering of civilians was unbearable.
El-Fasher is the last army foothold in the vast western region of Darfur, besieged by the RSF and its allies for 18 months. Heavy fighting has been reported since Saturday after RSF fighters captured the home of the North Darfur governor. Verified videos show RSF combatants celebrating their capture of the army's el-Fasher headquarters, yet local allies insist fighting continues in parts of the city.
The RSF has been accused of targeting civilians in airstrikes and encircling the city, trapping nearly 250,000 individuals who are now facing starvation. The UN describes el-Fasher as an epicenter of suffering amid this ongoing conflict. With routes cut off, civilians are left without access to food, healthcare, or safety, making the call for safe passage and humanitarian aid even more urgent.
In a dire reflection of the humanitarian crisis, more than 150,000 people have died nationwide since the conflict escalated in 2023, and around 12 million have been displaced. As el-Fasher remains under threat, the international community continues to seek ceasefire negotiations and support for the civilians caught in the crossfire.
El-Fasher is the last army foothold in the vast western region of Darfur, besieged by the RSF and its allies for 18 months. Heavy fighting has been reported since Saturday after RSF fighters captured the home of the North Darfur governor. Verified videos show RSF combatants celebrating their capture of the army's el-Fasher headquarters, yet local allies insist fighting continues in parts of the city.
The RSF has been accused of targeting civilians in airstrikes and encircling the city, trapping nearly 250,000 individuals who are now facing starvation. The UN describes el-Fasher as an epicenter of suffering amid this ongoing conflict. With routes cut off, civilians are left without access to food, healthcare, or safety, making the call for safe passage and humanitarian aid even more urgent.
In a dire reflection of the humanitarian crisis, more than 150,000 people have died nationwide since the conflict escalated in 2023, and around 12 million have been displaced. As el-Fasher remains under threat, the international community continues to seek ceasefire negotiations and support for the civilians caught in the crossfire.
