Women and girls in El Fasher, North Darfur, are enduring extreme hardship after a siege that has lasted more than 500 days. The area has been cut off from humanitarian aid and protection, creating famine‑level conditions, indiscriminate attacks, and severe violations of international law. The United Nations reports at least 125 civilian deaths in the past three weeks, including summary executions.
Since April 2023, the siege has displaced over 600,000 people from El Fasher and its surrounding camps. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, facing starvation, sexual violence, and limited access to medical care. The International Peace Committee has classified the situation as famine‑level, noting that families are forced to eat animal feed and tree leaves because food stocks are depleted. The conflict has also destroyed more than 40 health and educational facilities, leaving pregnant women without emergency obstetric care and survivors of rape without medical services.
Women‑led organizations and volunteers are striving to meet the needs of women and girls, but they require direct and sustained support to continue their work. The United Nations has condemned the violations against women and girls in El Fasher, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians. It is also demanding the safe, unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance in line with Security Council Resolution 2736, which calls for an end to the siege of El Fasher and South Kordofan, protection of civilians—especially women and girls—and respect for civilian premises.
The situation in El Fasher is critical, with women and girls fighting daily for survival. The international community must act urgently, supporting women‑led organizations and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need. The suffering of women and girls in El Fasher demands decisive global action; the world cannot remain silent in the face of such extreme hardship.
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