El Fasher... bloody events Sudanese will never forget
13 November, 2025
Ankara- ( Sudanow Magazine ) Thousands of people fled from El Fasher after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia seized control of the city last October, following an 18-month siege. A new report from Yale School Humanities Research Lab documents, RSF militia siege of El Fasher in North Darfur, stating that the city is now completely isolated and its residents face a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the report, militia of RSF constructed more than 31 kilometers of earthen berms around the city and seized control on all key roads. This siege prevented civilians from fleeing and prevented arrival of humanitarian aid, that turned El Fasher into what the report described as a “killing box.” The report confirms that the use of siege as a weapon of war is a violation of international humanitarian law, and is based on evidence from satellite images, open data analysis and field testimonies, making it an important document for international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. In a telephone call to (Sudanow) with a survivor lady (...) from El Fasher events she described to us in sad words the journey of escaping from El Fasher, saying, “The attack began with huge numbers of militia fighters , the sounds of aircraft above the sky were deafening, the cannons pounded the ground under our feet, and fighting was very violent, including even use of bladed weapons. Scenes of beating, slaughter, killing, and rape were repeated in front of all people in the streets, which were filled with corpses everywhere.” My family (consist of 5 person) decided to take to road, a dangerous adventure, but despite its difficulty, we determined to do so to escape from militia hell. The suffering was intense; the road was long, we had no food or water, and our bodies were very week from the long siege. We endured all kinds of psychological torture and physical abuse. I personally was whipped and I am now receiving treatment to heal the wounds that I am suffering from, although I may lucky because others have been subjected to more than that, such as slaughter, murder and rape. The survivor lady ( ....) continued, saying in a painful voice, "The Rapid Support Forces militia practiced the utmost humiliation and degradation in front of our eyes. For the first time in my life, I saw men forced to take off all their clothes and walk completely naked, then they were killed, and many of them were left wounded in the streets to die. The horror we witnessed forced us to leave some of those who were walking with us wounded, despite the pain. The rest continued the journey of escape in search for salvation from brutality of these criminals who had lost all morals and human feelings and no difference between woman or man, young or old, and did not have mercy even on elderly. Then we arrived to 'Tawila' after a 4-day journey in a very bad condition." A few groups remained, couldn’t leave El Fasher, and are now homeless and wandering the streets. They are afraid even to enter their homes for fear of oppression of terrorist militia, and are forced to sit on roadside under walls. The survivor continued her story to ( Sudanow) , saying that during the siege of El Fasher, there were some initiatives from charitable individuals and organizations, including Jabal Sabil for Peace and Development Organization, providing aid to those affected and supplying medicine to health centers and displaced persons camp (approximately 20) in El -Fasher. As for the humanitarian situation of the large numbers of displaced people in Tawila following the invasion of El Fasher, it is dire and difficult, without basic services. They are living in tents outside the city. All thanks to Tawila Emergency Room, Giving Without Borders organization, and Charitable citizens overseeing several kitchens (Al-Takaya) that provide food and aid to the displaced, but the amount is insufficient for everyone, so food is distributed on a rotating basis Day by day . In conclusion, I call all organizations working in field of humanitarian aid, voluntary organizations, and benevolent citizens to lend a helping hand and support those displaced people here are in dire need of food, medicine, and clothing’’.
Informed resource said to (Sudanow) Regarding the events in Darfur and El Fasher in general, El Fasher remained under siege for more than 18 months, and siege intensified and increased gradually , leading to the depletion of food supplies in the city and their prices reaching astronomical levels until they disappeared completely, and people were forced to eat fodder (mud), dead animal skins, and hides stored in homes due to the complete lack of food. Meanwhile, Rapid Support Forces militia intensified their successive attacks using drones and direct ground attacks with heavy artillery, that effected badly on urban environment and hindered suppling services to citizens. Services in the health sector were limited to only one hospital, the maternity hospital in El Fasher, as all other hospitals were out of service. Medicine became unavailable, and health situation deteriorated, causing dozens of deaths, some from seemingly minor illnesses, but the lack of medicine led to serious complications and consequently an increased death toll. The informed source continued speaking to (Sudanaw): "Hundreds of civilians tried to leave El Fasher searching for safe areas. Their first destination was ''Tawila'', city southwest of El Fasher, about 55-60 kilometers away. The journey was arduous and dangerous. During the journey, they were attacked by militia forces who committed all kinds of crimes, including murder, looting, and sexual violence against them. While sometimes, they were attacked by some tribes supporting the militia who blocked their path and forced them to call their families to pay (ransom) to release them, so very few of them managed to escape despite suffering. On humanitarian situation in Tawila city, the number of residents and displaced persons exceeds 650,000, living in dire and extremely difficult conditions. The available services are barely sufficient for local population, let alone influx of people from El Fasher, Karnoi, and other areas. After the entry of this terrorist Militia into the city of El Fasher and after withdrawal armed forces, the Militia violated the sanctity of innocent people in the streets, the sick, and their companions in the Saudi hospital in videos and , that able to be found on all social media devices. This was followed by increasing waves of displacement from the city, pursued by all ways of killing and torture. A small number of them managed to reach Tawila, some to Mellit city, and some to Al-Dabba city. The humanitarian situation is extremely difficult, as no relief supplies entered during that period due to the siege. It is worth mentioning here that United Nations had sent a convoy about 4 months ago, which was intercepted and seized by militia forces in "Al-Kuma" area, east of Al-Fasher, while other organizations were content with condemnation and did not take any other measures, which gave the militia to strangle Al-Fasher even more. We draw attention here to the fact that the Security Council had issued a resolution to lift the siege on Al-Fashir last year, but the militia did not respond and refused to implement the resolution. All these negative messages come from institutions whose primary duty is supposed to be maintaining international peace and security, but unfortunately, they have failed to follow through on their resolutions. This has given a clear signal to the terrorist Rapid Support Forces militia and those who support and stand behind them to continue in this path. In general, the civilian population in El Fasher numbers around 250,000, living in extremely difficult and complex humanitarian conditions. We do not believe that this terrorist militia will give them any attention. They may deliver them aid in front of the cameras, but even that aid could may take back after show ends. The militia that killed innocent people with cold blood cannot be trusted with their safety. Therefore, they are now hostages living in extremely difficult conditions. According reports issued by International Organization for Migration (IOM) informed that "field estimates indicated that more than 26,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher." The report notes that these figures are preliminary and subject to increase due to ongoing insecurity and accelerating pace of displacement. The city has witnessed a wave of widespread violations by controlling forces, including field- executions targeting civilians, as according to reports by local and international reports, more than 2,000 people have been killed in El Fasher, mostly women, children, and the elderly. Besides abductions of citizens have also been documented to impose high ransom. Hospitals and medical facilities were looted, including the ''Saudi hospital'' in Al-Fasher, where a massacre of patients and the wounded took place resulted to killed 500 person. Humanitarian organizations reported that many civilians were killed in various parts of the city, including while attempting to flee the fighting. Satellite images and videos circulating on social media showed horrific scenes of corpses were thrown in the city streets, including what appeared to be bodies of civilians killed while trying to escape. Ina press coverage to events in El Fasher," Le Monde" reported that most of the survivors arriving in Tawila had lost track of at least one family member. Many also preferred not to reveal their identities for fear of reprisals against relatives detained by militia of Rapid Support Forces militia in El Fasher or in detention camps around it. Even if they were not killed immediately, hundreds of civilians were arrested at checkpoints surrounding the city. Le Monde continues French newspaper, explaining that with increasing international pressure, militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their civilian allies launched a counter-media campaign, denying accusations of genocide in El Fasher and portraying themselves as victims of a "disinformation campaign." However, all indications suggest that militia of RSF is working to cover up the crimes, Le Monde asserts, noting that satellite imagery from Yale University Humanities Research Laboratory confirmed existence of at least two mass graves in El Fasher, dug to bury bodies visible from air. Nathaniel Raymond, a researcher at the lab said “We cannot estimate number of bodies because they were piled on top of each other. We also observed movement of bulldozers and trucks, likely transporting bodies, and these movements are accelerating,”. He warned of the fate of some 190,000 civilians trapped in El Fasher and suffering from the risk of famine. Satellite images indicate that the Rapid Support Forces militia set fire to two mass graves: one near the Saudi Hospital, and the other on the edge of a 55-kilometer-long sand trench around the city'' . Thus All indications asserts that militia of Rapid Support Forces are concealing evidence of the massacres’’.
In explaining the current situation, a volunteer and humanitarian activist in Tawila told Sudanow, "The city is located west of El Fasher and is bordered by Kabkabiya locality to the west, Dar es Salaam locality to the south, and Kutum locality to the north." A field survey was conducted to (1) to count the displaced people and assess their humanitarian conditions, (2) to identify their needs, and to gather them in locations where services could be easily provided. This process involved consulting with the elders of the displaced persons camps, supervisors at the Tawila camp, and supervisors of the camps. The displacement from El Fasher and its surrounding areas began 26th of last on October, with people fleeing to Tawila and Ad-Dabba in Northern State due to insecurity, shortages of food and medicine, and ongoing fighting between armed forces and militia of Rapid Support Forces . This has led to displacement of thousands of civilians, estimated at approximately 221,125 people. He added, "What they need..." The displaced people are in dire and urgent need of food supplies, comprehensive healthcare, medicine, blankets, traditional mats, and water containers. As Among dangers they face that must be addressed are, spread of infectious diseases in such conditions, attacks by criminals seeking to steal from them, and the impending arrival of winter. The activist went on saying to (Sudanow ) that among the displaced are a large number of orphans, widows, people with disabilities, and war-wounded individuals who are in dire need of assistance given the difficult conditions in the city which has hosted them . On health side, there are some cases of disease complications and malnutrition. Everyone here is in urgent need of humanitarian aid, including medicine, food, water, and tents. The local residents of Tawila, who have hosted the displaced and shared their shelter and food with them, they are now in same boat as displaced and are in need to assistance and support ‘’.
We recommend: (1) the urgent delivery of aid to save critical cases; (2) coordination with UN agencies to provide protection; and (3) coordination with international organizations, as working with international community is more effective than working individually.
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