In brief
In the besieged Sudanese city of El-Fasher, residents are facing dire food shortages as the Rapid Support Forces allegedly commit war crimes by targeting civilians. Satellite imagery reveals alarming increases in burial sites, indicating a humanitarian crisis amidst ongoing conflict. The local resistance committee warns that the population is trapped with dwindling resources and no means of escape.
Satellite images show how Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are flouting international law by intentionally targeting civilians in the besieged city of El-Fasher. A research team from Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) describes these actions as potential war crimes.
Caitlin Howarth from the HRL highlighted the disturbing growth of burial areas, with over 60 new mounds appearing in just a two-week span. Currently, the RSF has completed a 57-kilometer wall around the city, trapping residents and exacerbating their plight.
There is nothing left to eat today - all food supplies have run out, stated the local resistance committee, emphasizing that even basic survival rations have disappeared.
Since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, Sudan has faced increasing conflict between military factions and the RSF, which is accused of targeting non-Arab ethnic groups. El-Fasher, under siege for 18 months, struggles without a reliable communications network, isolating its inhabitants further.
The resistance committee warns that conditions are critical for approximately 300,000 residents left in the city without aid or humanitarian access. Reports reveal community kitchens have ceased operations due to lack of ingredients, and even black-market food supplies have completely vanished.
Community members report horrific attacks, with air-deployed munitions causing substantial destruction to shelters, mosques, and hospitals. Between late September and early October, at least 174 civilians were reported killed in targeted attacks, and many more were wounded. These incidents have led researchers to conclude that the RSF's actions amount to war crimes.
Howarth presses for immediate international intervention to stop hostilities, allow safe civilian evacuation, and ensure humanitarian aid is delivered without threat of violence. As conditions worsen, the cries for help from El-Fasher grow increasingly desperate.
