Al-Fashir, Sudan – A United Nations mission has reported widespread devastation and near-total abandonment in Al-Fashir following its capture by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late October. This marks the first UN assessment within the city since the RSF asserted control, revealing a dire humanitarian crisis.
The UN team described Al-Fashir as a city largely devoid of life, with only a few individuals seeking shelter within damaged buildings or under makeshift plastic coverings. The RSF’s seizure of Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, followed an 18-month siege and a violent offensive. Reports of atrocities, including sexual violence, kidnappings, and arbitrary detentions, accompanied the takeover, leading to the displacement of over 107,000 people, according to UN estimates.
Denise Brown, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, expressed grave concerns upon her return from Al-Fashir. She described civilians as deeply traumatized and living in undignified and unsafe conditions after two years of conflict and the RSF’s control of the city. Brown emphasized that Al-Fashir has become an epicenter of humanitarian suffering in this war, noting that the once-vibrant city of nearly one million residents is now a shadow of its former self and a crime scene.
“These people are living in extremely fragile conditions,” Brown stated. “Some are living in abandoned buildings. Others in primitive conditions, with plastic sheeting and no sanitation, and no water. These are undignified and unsafe conditions for people.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) mission gained access to Al-Fashir after weeks of difficult negotiations. The primary objective of the visit was to assess the feasibility of safely delivering essential supplies to the city. However, Brown expressed ongoing concerns for the injured and those potentially held in detention, whom the mission was unable to reach.
During the brief, unguarded visit, the UN team visited pre-arranged locations, including the Saudi Hospital, shelters for displaced persons, and five UN offices. The situation remains critical, and the UN is urgently exploring avenues to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected population.
