Devastation in El-Fasher: RSF Gains Ground Amid Ongoing Strife

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a significant offensive in el-Fasher, capturing key sites and intensifying an already dire humanitarian situation. As the army responds, the civilian toll mounts, and the international community faces mounting criticism for its inaction.

In a bold offensive that underscores the deteriorating conditions in Sudan, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the besieged city of el-Fasher on Friday, engaging in a seven-hour battle that saw them seize control of a cattle market, a prison, and a military facility. Witnesses reported the RSF broadcasting videos from the livestock market, highlighting their assertion of control for the first time in large numbers since the ongoing siege began 15 months ago.

On Saturday morning, the Sudanese army launched a counterattack, managing to push the RSF back beyond the city limits while claiming to inflict heavy casualties on the paramilitary group. However, the devastating impact of continued RSF shelling, including deadly drone strikes, has left civilians increasingly vulnerable. A local resident recounted a tragic incident where five civilians were killed when a shell struck a vehicle near his home.

Since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan in April 2023, ignited by a bitter power struggle between the army and the RSF, the humanitarian crisis has escalated alarmingly. The United Nations has described the situation as the world's largest humanitarian emergency, with over 150,000 lives lost and an estimated 12 million displaced.

El-Fasher, the remaining military-controlled city in Darfur, is now largely isolated due to a communications blackout, making it nearly impossible to verify information coming from the region. The RSF's offensive followed a sustained period of artillery bombardments and drone attacks, raising concerns about the involvement of external backers. Accusations of funding from the United Arab Emirates have been made, though the Gulf nation has denied these claims.

The assault on el-Fasher comes on the heels of the RSF's takeover of the Zamzam camp, once the nation’s largest displacement camp. Many residents fleeing could be seen risking their lives to escape violence, with some seeking refuge in surrounding areas like Tawila. However, Tawila is facing its crises as it becomes overwhelmed with displaced individuals while grappling with cholera outbreaks and other dire conditions.

Residents of el-Fasher have voiced their despair, revealing that desperate people no longer have access to essentials like food and medicine. Many report living in dire conditions, relying on dwindling resources, with some even resorting to eating leftover food waste. The Norwegian Refugee Council's Mathilde Vu has lamented the international community's tepid response to the escalating humanitarian disaster, urging for immediate assistance as local solidarity frays under the pressure of profound need.

As the conflict drags on, the International Criminal Court has hinted at viable grounds for war crimes accusations in Darfur, reflecting the gravity of atrocities occurring on the ground. With the humanitarian landscape deteriorating and international engagement lacking, the citizens of el-Fasher find themselves caught in a relentless cycle of violence and hardship.