The ongoing conflict in Sudan has plunged the Darfur region into a deepening humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of civilians fleeing their homes to escape reported atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since the RSF captured el-Fasher on October 26, over 16,200 people have sought refuge in overcrowded camps in Tawila, located approximately 70 kilometers from the city. The International Organization for Migration estimates that around 82,000 individuals have fled el-Fasher and its surrounding areas as of November 4, many of them arriving in Tawila on foot. The camps, already strained by previous waves of displacement, are ill-equipped to handle the influx, with makeshift tents and scarce resources. Aid groups report severe malnutrition among children and adults, while displaced families struggle to survive on just one or two meals a day. The RSF and the Sudanese army have been locked in a brutal war since April 2023, with at least 40,000 people killed and 12 million displaced nationwide. The conflict has exacerbated food insecurity, leaving nearly half of Sudan’s population in dire need. The RSF’s recent seizure of el-Fasher, following an 18-month siege, has been marked by widespread violence, including summary executions, sexual assaults, and attacks on civilians. Despite a proposed humanitarian truce by a U.S.-led mediator group, the RSF and the army remain at odds over the conditions for a ceasefire. The fall of el-Fasher and escalating violence in North Kordofan signal the RSF’s growing strategic advantage, further destabilizing the region and intensifying the suffering of civilians.
Thousands flee to overcrowded camps after Sudan’s paramilitary captures el-Fasher
