Sudan’s Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
In the heart of Sudan’s deepening humanitarian disaster, Al Jazeera has delivered a harrowing report from a displacement camp where thousands are fleeing the besieged city of el-Fasher. The capital of North Darfur has become the epicenter of brutal clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), forcing families into desperate exodus.
The Mass Exodus from El-Fasher
Once a thriving city, el-Fasher is now a warzone. UN estimates reveal over 40,000 people have fled in recent weeks, adding to the 10 million displaced since the conflict began in April 2023. Al Jazeera’s team documented displaced families walking for days under scorching heat, arriving at overcrowded camps with little food, water, or medical care.
“I lost everything—my home, my shop, my brother was killed,” said Ahmed Ibrahim, a father of four sheltering near Nyala. “We walked for three days with no food. My youngest child is sick, but there are no doctors here.”
El-Fasher: A City Under Siege
El-Fasher is the last major Darfur city not fully under RSF control, making it a critical battleground. The RSF, accused of ethnic cleansing in West Darfur, has escalated attacks, while the SAF struggles to defend. The city’s main hospital has been repeatedly shelled, and aid agencies report severe medicine shortages.
“The situation is catastrophic,” said Dr. Hawa Mohamed, a volunteer medic. “We’re treating bullet wounds with no supplies. People are dying from preventable causes.”
Despite UN Security Council ceasefire calls, fighting continues unchecked.
Deepening Humanitarian Disaster
Displacement camps are overwhelmed. The World Food Programme (WFP) warns Sudan faces the world’s largest hunger crisis, with 18 million food insecure. In camps, families survive on one meal a day—often just bread and boiled water.
“The world has forgotten Sudan,” said Fatima Abdelrahman, a camp leader. “We hear about other wars, but here, we are dying in silence.”
Al Jazeera’s footage shows children scavenging for food, women waiting hours for water, and cholera outbreaks spreading due to poor sanitation.
Global Inaction and Calls for Justice
Human rights groups demand urgent intervention. “The atrocities mirror Darfur’s 2003 genocide—yet the response is shockingly muted,” said Amnesty International’s Tirana Hassan. The ICC has reopened war crime investigations, but justice remains distant.
Regional mediation efforts have stalled. Chad, hosting 500,000+ refugees, has closed its borders, trapping many in conflict zones.
Local Resilience Amid Despair
Despite the crisis, local volunteers and NGOs run community kitchens, schools, and trauma programs. “We have no choice but to help each other,” said volunteer Yousif Adam. “No one else is coming.”
Al Jazeera’s report underscores that Sudan’s war is a global test of humanity. Without action, el-Fasher’s tragedy will worsen, scarring another generation.
For now, the displaced wait—hoping for peace, or at least survival.
— Reporting by NextMinuteNews with Al Jazeera inputs
