THU 21 AUG - At least nine civilians have been killed in Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelling of a displacement camp as the group seeks to take control of the city of El Fasher following a siege that has lasted more than a year.
Monitoring group Sudan Doctors Network said the RSF had “deliberately shelled” the Abu Shouk camp, which sits at the city’s northern tip, with those killed including five children and four women.
Recent days have seen intense fighting between the RSF, which is backed by the UAE, and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which continues to hold parts of the city.
On Wednesday, loud explosions were reportedly heard in the north of the city, while Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said its teams in Tawila, around 50km away, could hear the sound of shelling.
A photo circulating on social media showed a large hole in the wall of a building reported to be the headquarters of the El Fasher community kitchen, one of the last lifelines for people in the city. There were no reports of any injuries.
MSF said that, in the last 24 hours, its hospital in Tawila had activated a mass casualty plan following the arrival of 28 patients injured by the fighting. Many had fled El Fasher on foot, with at least one dying “moments after arriving at the hospital”.
Satellite imagery from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) showed an increase in the building of earthen walls around El Fasher. Those walls may serve to limit exit points from the city and prevent civilians from leaving.
An existing wall built by the group over recent months stretches six kilometres across the north of the city.
“We are trapped, living like prisoners, unable to move because of the constant shelling,” resident Mahasin told Avaaz on Thursday.
“Right now, as I speak, you can hear the sound of rocket launchers in the background. People are dying here every day.”
One local source said they had received accounts of civilians on the roads out of El Fasher being subjected to killings, looting, rapes, and torture.
Another civilian, Ibrahim, said: “The RSF are telling people that if they want food, they have to leave El Fasher. But then, they slaughter them like sheep on the road.”
See the Voices From The Ground section below for more testimony from El Fasher
In recent days, the RSF has made advances into parts of El Fasher previously controlled by SAF.
On Tuesday, reports suggested SAF had withdrawn from Abu Shouk and that the RSF had entered from the north.
Resident Mohammed told Avaaz that, as of Thursday, the camp was “not under the control of RSF but there are areas that are close to the camp that are controlled by RSF”.
There were also reports that the RSF had captured the Central Reserve Police base and the adjacent Shala Prison, although control of both sites has changed hands over recent months.
The base is close to the headquarters of SAF’s 6th infantry division, the military’s last remaining stronghold in Darfur.
Recent weeks have seen people in El Fasher forced to eat animal feed in order to survive. The World Food Programme (WFP) continues to support civilians through digital cash transfers, but has been unable to deliver aid to the city for more than a year.
On Wednesday, three trucks from a 16-vehicle WFP aid convoy were hit by a drone strike while in the town of Mellit, around 60km north of El Fasher.
In a statement, the RSF, which controls the town, accused SAF of destroying the convoy, while SAF in turn claimed the RSF had been responsible.
El Fasher is the capital of North Darfur state and the last major area of the Darfur region not yet under the control of the RSF.
In April, the RSF attacked and razed Zamzam, which sits 10 miles to El Father’s south and was Sudan’s largest displacement camp. Estimates suggest the attack, which lasted three days, may have had a civilian death toll of more than 1,500.
Shayna Lewis, Sudan Specialist with Avaaz, said: “We're now witnessing the endgame in El Fasher. Hundreds of thousands face mass starvation and slaughter at the hands of the RSF. But they are only able to commit these atrocities because of the money, weapons, and diplomatic support of the United Arab Emirates.
"Secretary Rubio and Foreign Secretary Lammy both need to pick up the phone to their ally and unequivocally state that further atrocities against the civilian population will not be tolerated, and safe passage for civilians from El Fasher must be ensured.”
Voices from the Ground
Interviews available on request. Names have been changed due to safety concerns.
Speaking to Avaaz from El Fasher on Thursday, with heavy shelling audible in the background, Mahasin said:
“Things are getting worse in El Fasher. Today it is raining, and the internet connection is very weak. Even though we are using a Starlink device, the rain affects it. Right now, as I speak, you can hear the sound of rocket launchers in the background. People are dying here every day.
“The only functioning hospital, the Saudi Hospital, has also been hit. There is no medicine, no medical equipment, and hardly any doctors left—only two or three remain.
“Food is almost impossible to find. If you try to leave your area, you risk being killed or targeted. I myself had to relocate recently because my neighborhood became too dangerous. We are trapped, living like prisoners, unable to move because of the constant shelling.
“There is only one functioning market in the city, but it is inaccessible to most people. We are surviving on ambaz—animal feed—because there is no other food left.”
Speaking to Avaaz from El Fasher on Wednesday, Ibrahim said:
“We are now in the second week of continuous shelling. Just this morning, starting from 7am, more than 50 shells landed. Yesterday, a shell struck Takiyya Matbakh Al-Khair [the Goodness Kitchen Soup Kitchen]. Thankfully, no one was injured, but their survival felt nothing short of a miracle.
“The drone attacks are still ongoing. Most people now believe that during drone strikes, we must turn off all lights and the Starlink devices to avoid becoming targets. That means we are forced to sit in total darkness.
“Two days ago, there was a strike on [a local government] building in El Fasher, which resulted in the deaths of members of the judicial police. Even the injured who were taken to the Saudi Hospital were not spared—a shell hit the hospital, and there are reports of multiple fatalities from that attack as well.
“There’s a cash crisis in El Fasher. If you try to withdraw money from your account at Bankak, they deduct 60% of the amount you want to withdraw. Prices are doubling if you’re paying via bank transfer compared to cash—which is barely available to begin with. This is not just a financial crisis; it’s a crisis of global conscience. And yet, no one seems to care about what’s happening in El Fasher. It’s as if our blood is cheaper than everyone else’s.
“The Rapid Support Forces are telling people that if they want food, they have to leave El Fasher. But then, they slaughter them like sheep on the road.
“Many people have tried to flee El Fasher, only to die on the way. But for them, it was the only option left."
The weekly dispatch features the latest developments, first-hand testimony, footage, photos, stats and analysis on Sudan. We can connect you with voices from the ground, experts and survivors of the war. I am available at +44 7935 296 004 / sudan@avaaz.org
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is building an earthen wall around El Fasher to create a “kill box” and prevent civilians fleeing the besieged city, satellite imagery suggests.
People caught trying to smuggle food into the besieged city of El Fasher are being “executed on sight” by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to one civilian.
Avaaz Foundation
110 Golden Lane | London, England, EC1Y 0TG
1330 6th Avenue, Suite 23A | New York, NY 10019, USA
.svg)
