标签： Africa

The city of el-Fasher in Sudan has become a harrowing symbol of the ongoing civil war, as residents face starvation, disease, and relentless violence. Rare footage obtained by the BBC reveals the dire conditions inside the besieged city, where women at a community kitchen express their despair. ‘Our children are dying before our eyes,’ one woman laments, highlighting the innocence of those caught in the crossfire. Food scarcity has driven prices to unprecedented levels, with money that once bought a week’s worth of meals now covering just one. International aid organizations have condemned the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war, while a cholera outbreak exacerbates the crisis. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports nearly 100,000 cholera cases and 2,470 deaths in the past year, with el-Fasher at the epicenter. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has raged for over two years, with el-Fasher emerging as one of the most brutal frontlines. The RSF has tightened its blockade, escalating attacks on the city. Despite the army’s clearance for aid convoys, the UN awaits official approval from the RSF, which accuses the army of using civilians as shields. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with shortages of medical supplies and therapeutic food. ‘The children of el-Fasher are dying daily due to lack of food and medicine,’ says Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Khater. The international community has been urged to intervene as NGOs warn of a deliberate strategy to break civilians through hunger and fear. Meanwhile, displaced persons face violence and extortion as they flee to overcrowded camps, where cholera thrives due to polluted water and inadequate facilities. The situation remains catastrophic, with residents pleading for any form of assistance to end their suffering.

Sudan’s protracted conflict has plunged the nation into a humanitarian catastrophe, with over half of its 45 million population displaced and nearly a million facing famine. The war, now in its 27th month, remains in a strategic deadlock, with neither the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) able to secure a decisive advantage. The SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, recently recaptured central Khartoum, showcasing newly acquired weaponry from Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and Iran. However, their offensive quickly stalled. Meanwhile, the RSF, under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), launched a devastating drone attack on Port Sudan, the interim capital and primary hub for humanitarian aid. The RSF has expanded its operations southward, striking alliances with rebel groups and besieging North Darfur’s capital, el-Fasher. The conflict has exacerbated ethnic tensions, with the RSF accused of genocide against the Massalit people in West Darfur. Civilians, who once united to overthrow former leader Omar al-Bashir, are now fragmented, with some aligning with Burhan, others with Hemedti, and many attempting neutrality. Despite international efforts, including a UN peace plan and a London conference, no credible peace process exists. The UAE and Saudi Arabia’s disagreements further complicate diplomatic resolutions. As the world’s largest humanitarian emergency worsens, multilateral organizations like the UN and African Union are called upon to prioritize Sudan’s crisis and remind global powers of their commitments to human rights and peace.