Seven Dead, 71 Wounded as Sudan's RSF Shells Besieged City
El-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur still under army control, has become the most violent front line in the war between the Sudanese army and the RSF.
Shelling by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces killed at least seven people and wounded 71 others in El-Fasher, a medical source said Sunday.
The attack on the besieged city marks the fiercest offensive yet by the paramilitary group, which has been engaged in a long-running conflict with the Sudanese army that erupted in April 2023.
El-Fasher is strategically significant as it remains one of the last major cities under army control in the vast western Darfur region.
Over recent weeks, the RSF forces have escalated their siege on the city, launching intense artillery barrages and ground incursions into densely populated neighborhoods, including the city's airport and the famine-hit Abu Shouk displacement camp.
The few operational hospitals in El-Fasher have been repeatedly targeted by the RSF, with local police headquarters also falling under its control.
The medical source, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, noted that the true toll of Saturday’s attack may be higher, as many injured were unable to reach the hospital due to the intensity of the shelling.
Among those wounded, 22 are reported to be in a critical condition.
Local activists have stated that the attack targeted several neighborhoods near the airport, an area the RSF has sought to capture.
The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed Arab militias accused of genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s, aims to gain full control over the region following its expulsion from Khartoum earlier this year.
According to satellite imagery provided by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, the RSF has constructed more than 31 kilometers of berms (raised earth barriers) around El-Fasher, effectively isolating the city's defenders.
This has confined the Sudanese army and its allied militias to less than five square kilometers within the city, marking a significant reduction in their controlled area since the siege began.
The besieged population, estimated by the UN at approximately 300,000, faces severe shortages of water and food that have persisted for over a year.
The declaration of famine has been hindered by a lack of data but is considered imminent.
Over 40% of children under five are reported to be acutely malnourished, with 11% suffering from severe malnutrition.
Many residents rely on animal fodder for sustenance and face perilous journeys into the desert in search of safety, often succumbing to starvation, exposure, or violence.
The expansion of cemeteries, as shown by Yale’s satellite images, reflects the deteriorating situation.
The RSF's establishment of a parallel government in the region further complicates the conflict.
Should El-Fasher fall under their control, the RSF would effectively govern all five Darfur state capitals, exacerbating concerns over potential genocide against non-Arab ethnic groups similar to those witnessed in other parts of Darfur.
Both warring sides have been accused of war crimes, with the RSF facing accusations of genocide, sexual violence, and systematic looting.
Historical accounts point to a campaign of ethnic cleansing conducted by the paramilitary force, along with the government, targeting non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur in the early 2000s, resulting in an estimated death toll of 300,000.
The attack on the besieged city marks the fiercest offensive yet by the paramilitary group, which has been engaged in a long-running conflict with the Sudanese army that erupted in April 2023.
El-Fasher is strategically significant as it remains one of the last major cities under army control in the vast western Darfur region.
Over recent weeks, the RSF forces have escalated their siege on the city, launching intense artillery barrages and ground incursions into densely populated neighborhoods, including the city's airport and the famine-hit Abu Shouk displacement camp.
The few operational hospitals in El-Fasher have been repeatedly targeted by the RSF, with local police headquarters also falling under its control.
The medical source, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, noted that the true toll of Saturday’s attack may be higher, as many injured were unable to reach the hospital due to the intensity of the shelling.
Among those wounded, 22 are reported to be in a critical condition.
Local activists have stated that the attack targeted several neighborhoods near the airport, an area the RSF has sought to capture.
The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed Arab militias accused of genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s, aims to gain full control over the region following its expulsion from Khartoum earlier this year.
According to satellite imagery provided by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, the RSF has constructed more than 31 kilometers of berms (raised earth barriers) around El-Fasher, effectively isolating the city's defenders.
This has confined the Sudanese army and its allied militias to less than five square kilometers within the city, marking a significant reduction in their controlled area since the siege began.
The besieged population, estimated by the UN at approximately 300,000, faces severe shortages of water and food that have persisted for over a year.
The declaration of famine has been hindered by a lack of data but is considered imminent.
Over 40% of children under five are reported to be acutely malnourished, with 11% suffering from severe malnutrition.
Many residents rely on animal fodder for sustenance and face perilous journeys into the desert in search of safety, often succumbing to starvation, exposure, or violence.
The expansion of cemeteries, as shown by Yale’s satellite images, reflects the deteriorating situation.
The RSF's establishment of a parallel government in the region further complicates the conflict.
Should El-Fasher fall under their control, the RSF would effectively govern all five Darfur state capitals, exacerbating concerns over potential genocide against non-Arab ethnic groups similar to those witnessed in other parts of Darfur.
Both warring sides have been accused of war crimes, with the RSF facing accusations of genocide, sexual violence, and systematic looting.
Historical accounts point to a campaign of ethnic cleansing conducted by the paramilitary force, along with the government, targeting non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur in the early 2000s, resulting in an estimated death toll of 300,000.
