El-Fasher: Siege, Starvation, and a Media Blackout

In Sudan’s Darfur region, El-Fasher has become the center of a devastating humanitarian crisis. A brutal siege, severe food shortages, and a near-total media blackout have trapped hundreds of thousands in a cycle of violence and hunger. As global attention shifts, El-Fasher risks being forgotten—while its people suffer in silence.

The Siege: A City Under Attack

El-Fasher, the last major Darfur city not controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has endured months of relentless assault. The RSF—accused of ethnic cleansing—has encircled the city, blocking supply routes and shelling civilian areas. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) struggle to defend it, turning El-Fasher into a deadly battleground.

Eyewitnesses report indiscriminate attacks, with homes, hospitals, and displacement camps destroyed. Once a thriving city, El-Fasher is now a ghost town. “No one is safe,” a local doctor told NextMinuteNews via satellite. “Every day, we bury more bodies.”

Starvation as a Weapon of War

The siege has triggered famine. Markets are empty, aid is blocked, and food prices have soared. The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that 800,000+ people face catastrophic hunger, with children dying from malnutrition.

“We eat leaves and boiled leather,” said a displaced mother. Aid workers describe desperate scenes: one meal a day, elders collapsing, and families drinking dirty water. Despite global appeals, humanitarian access remains restricted—both sides accused of using starvation as a war tactic, violating international law.

The Media Blackout: A Crisis Unreported

The world hears little about El-Fasher due to internet shutdowns and journalist threats. Local reporters risk their lives, but their stories rarely reach global audiences. International media, focused on other conflicts, often overlook Sudan. Even UN efforts are stalled by funding gaps and bureaucracy.

Will the World Respond?

El-Fasher’s people plead for help. Without action, it could become another Srebrenica or Aleppo—a symbol of global neglect. Human rights groups demand:
1. Unrestricted aid access
2. Sanctions for war crimes
3. Global media attention

El-Fasher’s fate hangs in the balance. The question remains: will the world act before it’s too late?

— Reporting by NextMinuteNews with anonymous sources in Sudan.