4 JULY -- The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) made sweeping advances across Sudan in the past two weeks, capturing key territory in West Kordofan and Sennar State, displacing tens of thousands of civilians. Meanwhile thousands of people in El Fasher, the North Darfur capital, are blocked from access to medical care, food, water, and shelter -- hemmed in by heavy, indiscriminate shelling and drone attacks by RSF forces.
Life for people across Sudan has become a struggle for survival. Avaaz has spoken to civilians around the country who are sharing similar accounts of life in war time Sudan. Over 55,000 people have fled from Sinja in Sennar State, as conflict between the RSF and Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) expands, and approximately 50,000 have fled from El Fasher to Tawila, North Darfur state.
Many civilians have now been displaced for the second or third time since the war broke out in April 2023, and told Avaaz of inhumane conditions in areas besieged by the RSF. Sharif, a human rights defender in El Fasher told us: “I don’t know how to describe El Fasher. El Fasher is very very bad. It is a human tragedy. Most of the injuries are civilians and they have lost parts of their bodies. Their injuries are very very dangerous."
UNICEF reports that over 400 children have been killed or seriously injured in El Fasher since May 2024.
The Darfur Advocacy Group reports that “due to the indiscriminate shelling of densely populated residential neighborhoods by the RSF, citizens of El Fasher city are forced to dig trenches inside their homes to protect themselves and their children.”
“All health centers are out of service," Sharif added. "Saudi hospital has been shut, Mara Mountain hospital is shut, they have all been hit by bombs. So the injured have been evacuated. Seeing these people, it breaks my heart. I visited the hospitals, one cannot imagine that it is a human situation for people to live like that. I even went to the military hospital where there are civilians but the people do not have any money to buy medicines.
“Food is very very expensive, people cannot afford it. Even transportation is a problem, killing is everyday, [including] children. People cannot go out to get food because they think the bombs will come and kill them. Every day has become like this. Every day is bombing. Especially Abu Shouk camp, it is empty now, all of the people have fled.”
In Sennar State to the east of Sudan, civilians continue to flee the onslaught of the RSF. Phone and internet connection is cut, making it almost impossible to establish contact with people in Sennar and West Kordofan states. Unicef reported that armed men, reportedly including members of the RSF, ransacked and looted homes and shops and occupied government buildings.
Many of the displaced from Sennar have now sought refuge in Gedaref, Blue Nile, White Nile and Kassala states. Footage on social media shows civilians carrying what few belongings they can transport on foot as local transportation costs have skyrocketed.
Further violence may be expected. Over the past 15 months the RSF has routinely targeted displaced civilians, raising significant concerns about the potential for atrocities in these newly captured territories. Up to 130,000 are expected to flee Sennar in the coming days and weeks.
Footage & Images
International developments
Shayna Lewis is a Sudan Specialist with Avaaz, reporting this week from London. This dispatch is the latest in a weekly series designed to support the international media's coverage of the war in Sudan.
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 / shayna@avaaz.org / media@avaaz.org
To get this briefing in your inbox each week, sign up here.
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)
