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Hunger drama in Al-Fashir: 63 dead within a week!
In Al-Fashir, Sudan, at least 63 people have died of starvation since the RSF siege; the crisis continues to escalate.
Hunger drama in Al-Fashir: 63 dead within a week!
In Al-Fashir, the last major city in Sudan still controlled by the Sudanese army, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated dramatically. At least 63 people, mostly women and children, have died from malnutrition in the past week. This is reported by a health official in the state of North Darfur, who points out that these figures only include those who died in hospitals. Many families bury their dead without medical assistance, which could potentially increase the number of unreported cases. The conflict in the region has sparked the world's worst hunger and refugee crisis, with more than 14 million people forcibly displaced, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The situation is further aggravated by the siege of the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) militia, which has surrounded Al-Fashir since May 2024. According to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), thousands of people are at risk of starvation because they are cut off from aid supplies. Calculations and reports indicate that the MSF militia could take control of Al-Fashir in a matter of days, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe, as experts and natives predict.
Tensions and violence in Sudan
The situation has further deteriorated since civil war broke out between the RSF and the Sudanese army in April 2023. The RSF, which has now received advanced weapons from countries such as Chad, Libya and South Sudan, plans to capture Al-Fashir within the next few days. RSF adviser Ali Musabel reiterated that an attack is planned that would completely surround the city while they exert pressure from various sides.
Recent reports indicate that the RSF has carried out mass killings and systematic rapes in the region. On January 25, at least 80 people were killed, reportedly all armed civilians, in Borush, about 170 kilometers east of Al-Fashir, Musabel said. Nevertheless, eyewitnesses and human rights groups have documented the RSF's brutal acts.
Challenges for the civilian population
The civilian population faces enormous challenges as many middle classes arm themselves against the RSF's attacks. Frisch reported to local journalists about the desperate measures being taken by civilians to defend their communities. The Zamzam refugee camp, located just 15 kilometers south of Al-Fashir and whose population has grown from 300,000 to over 500,000, is particularly at risk. The RSF has shelled this camp several times and current reports suggest that all escape routes are blocked.
International politicians, including US Senator Chris Van Hollen, have expressed concern about the UAE's involvement in arming the RSF. According to reports, the UAE has denied supplying advanced ammunition to the RSF. Analysts argue that more international action is needed to protect civilians and potentially establish safe zones and no-fly zones.
The urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian assistance and international intervention is more urgent than ever as the situation in Al-Fashir and across Sudan continues to deteriorate.