El Fasher, Sudan – An estimated 177,000 civilians remain trapped in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, amid escalating violence, according to the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate. The group issued a statement expressing grave concerns over the safety and well-being of those trapped.
The Syndicate alleges that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed a “horrific massacre” against unarmed civilians on Tuesday, accusing them of ethnic cleansing. “Reports from our field teams indicate that the number of victims is estimated to be in the thousands,” the statement read, citing communication difficulties and widespread insecurity hindering accurate assessments.
The statement further claims that a significant number of civilians have been subjected to mass killings, with reports of individuals being burned alive inside their vehicles. The Sudanese Doctors Syndicate also reported widespread looting of hospitals, medical facilities, and pharmacies by the RSF.
On Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 2,698 people had fled El Fasher in a single day due to the RSF attacks. This brings the total number of displaced persons to 36,183 in just four days.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in mid-April 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 20,000 people and the displacement of approximately 15 million, according to figures released by the United Nations and local authorities. The situation in El Fasher remains dire, with humanitarian organizations struggling to provide aid to those in need.
