Escalating Humanitarian Catastrophe in Sudan as RSF and Army Clash

Post by : Raina Nasser

EL-FASHER, SUDAN — The intensifying clash between Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the regular army has spiraled into one of the gravest humanitarian disasters globally. With tens of thousands dead and almost 12 million displaced, millions more are at risk of famine, marking this as the world’s largest hunger crisis according to the United Nations.

Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the struggle for Sudan’s rich gold and oil resources has compounded the turmoil. El-Fasher, strategically significant in western Darfur, succumbed to RSF control on October 26 after enduring an 18-month siege, signaling the loss of the army's last foothold in the area.

Survivors recounted chilling accounts of their escape from the city. Sixteen-year-old Mounir Abderahmane vividly remembered the chaos at a hospital where his father, a soldier, lay injured: “They brought in seven nurses and locked them in a room. We heard gunfire, and soon after, blood pooled under the door,” he shared. Mounir’s harrowing escape ended with the loss of his father during their flight to Chad.

As drone strikes escalated before the city's fall, residents were forced into makeshift shelters, grappling with dwindling food supplies. “Every time I went outside for fresh air, I found new corpses in the streets, often belonging to familiar faces,” recalled 53-year-old Hamid Souleymane Chogar, detailing the psychological toll. Civilians faced dangerous checkpoints where fighters extorted them with demands for cash to ensure safe passage.

The RSF, rooted in the notorious Janjaweed militia known for previous atrocities in Darfur, faces numerous allegations of human rights abuses, including killings and sexual violence. The regular army has also been criticized for its brutal tactics, highlighting the extreme violence of this civil war.

Humanitarian agencies are finding it challenging to deliver aid. A significant influx of refugees into eastern Chad’s camps, like the Tine transit camp, has led to dire overcrowding and food shortages. Medical teams are urgently relocating refugees to alleviate some of the strain and address critical health needs.

Experts caution that the situation in Sudan poses not only a regional crisis but also represents a serious challenge for the global community. The fierce conflict over natural resources and strategic territories indicates a complex reality with devastating effects on ordinary citizens.

As the RSF and army continue their fierce battle for control, the crisis in Sudan starkly illustrates the dire human costs of political struggles and highlights the pressing need for cohesive international humanitarian efforts.