Tens of thousands of Sudanese are fleeing reported atrocities in the western city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) late last month. The city’s fall has led to a massive displacement of people, with over 16,000 individuals seeking refuge in the nearby town of Tawila, according to Adam Rojal, spokesperson for Sudan’s IDPs and Refugee Camps. The International Organization for Migration estimates that the total number of displaced people exceeds 80,000.
The humanitarian situation in Tawila is dire, with displaced families struggling to survive on limited food and water. The local hospital, run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is overwhelmed, having received over 1,500 people from el-Fasher since the city fell. Many of the injured have serious fractures and trauma injuries, while hundreds more are arriving daily, severely malnourished. MSF reports extremely high levels of malnutrition among children and adults alike.
The fall of el-Fasher came after an 18-month siege, which has left the city in ruins. Reports from survivors and satellite imagery suggest that RSF fighters attacked hospitals and homes, with the World Health Organization confirming over 450 deaths at the Saudi Hospital. The RSF denies involvement in the killings, but independent footage contradicts their claims. The United Nations’ top human rights official, Volker Türk, warns that atrocities may still be unfolding within the city, with traumatized civilians trapped and facing summary executions, rape, and ethnically motivated violence.
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, following months of tension between the army and the RSF. The fighting has spread across the country, resulting in at least 40,000 deaths and displacing around 12 million people. Nearly half the population faces acute food insecurity, according to the WHO. The situation is further complicated by the spread of violence to neighboring North Kordofan, where a drone attack killed at least 40 people earlier this week.
Aid agencies are pushing to provide support to affected areas, despite the challenges. The RSF has announced its acceptance of a humanitarian truce proposed by the US-led Quad mediation group, while the Sudanese army has welcomed the plan, conditional on the RSF’s withdrawal from civilian areas and disarmament. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains concerned about the escalating crisis and its devastating impact on civilians.