Al-Fashir, North Darfur – Hundreds of thousands of civilians in al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, are enduring a dire humanitarian crisis marked by extreme food scarcity, constant shelling, and a surging cholera outbreak. The city, a critical stronghold for the Sudanese army, remains under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a civil war now in its third year. As journalist Nafisa Eltahir stated in a recent tweet, "The situation for people in al-Fashir is nightmarish - those who are there struggle to find even animal feed to eat amid the shelling."
The humanitarian situation has deteriorated to critical levels, with many residents facing starvation. Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands are trapped, with some displacement camps already experiencing famine conditions. One doctor, speaking anonymously for safety, emphasized that hunger has become a more pressing concern than the shelling. The UN's Global Famine Review Committee officially determined in August that IPC Phase 5 famine conditions are ongoing in the nearby Zamzam IDP camp, with high risks in other areas.
The city is subjected to continuous artillery and drone barrages from the RSF, as residents report "shelling al-Fashir morning and night." The fall of al-Fashir would grant the RSF control over nearly all of Darfur, a vast region bordering several African nations, potentially leading to a de facto division of Sudan. This strategic importance intensifies the fighting, making a humanitarian pause difficult to achieve.
Beyond the immediate dangers of conflict and starvation, a severe cholera outbreak is compounding the misery. The rainy season, combined with poor living conditions and inadequate sanitation, has fueled the spread of the disease, with thousands of suspected cases reported in North Darfur. Those attempting to flee the besieged city face attacks and are at increased risk of contracting cholera, further exacerbating the crisis.
Humanitarian organizations are severely stretched, with aid efforts hampered by foreign aid cuts and blockades on supply routes. Despite calls from the United Nations for a humanitarian pause to allow aid delivery, the RSF has rejected such proposals. Eltahir's tweet underscored the grim reality, stating there is "No end in sight to an existential fight for both sides," reflecting the protracted nature of the conflict and the immense suffering it continues to inflict on civilians.