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Food supply

Sudan's Civil War: El Fasher Under Siege, Threatening 300,000 Inhabitants

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been under siege for over a year by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving 300,000 residents at risk of famine. The city, home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people, has been cut off from humanitarian access, with food supplies dwindling and prices skyrocketing. The RSF has blocked all roads, and the UN has warned of catastrophic consequences if aid does not reach the city soon.

Key Takeaways:

  • The RSF, estimated to have 70,000 to 100,000 fighters, has laid siege to El Fasher since April 2024, aiming to starve out SAF-allied forces.
  • The city has been under siege for over a year, with all roads blocked, and food supplies dwindling.
  • Residents are resorting to eating hay or animal fodder, and food available in the city costs significantly more than elsewhere in Sudan, making it unaffordable for most people.
  • The RSF has been accused of war crimes, including killing, raping, and looting in Darfur.
  • The conflict is at a "strategic stalemate," with both sides viewing the conflict through a zero-sum lens.
  • The RSF has tightened the siege in recent months, with nothing coming in or out of the city, including aid and medical supplies.
  • Aid agencies estimate that around 12 million people in Sudan have been displaced by the conflict, and around 150,000 people have died.
  • The UN has warned of famine conditions and infectious diseases in other parts of the country, with 25 million people facing acute hunger.

Statistics:

  • 300,000 inhabitants of El Fasher are at risk of famine due to the siege.
  • The RSF is estimated to have 70,000 to 100,000 fighters.
  • Over 500,000 displaced people have fled into nearby towns, including Tawila, which has seen a massive influx of people.
  • Around 400,000 people have been displaced in Tawila.
  • The WFP estimates that 25 million people in Sudan are facing acute hunger.
  • Around 150,000 people have died as a result of the conflict.
  • 12 million people in Sudan have been displaced by the conflict.
  • The RSF and the SAF have been accused of war crimes.
  • The conflict has resulted in famine conditions and infectious diseases in other parts of the country.

Sources:

  • WFP [the World Food Program]
  • DW [Deutsche Welle]
  • The United Nations
  • The Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
  • PAEMA (Preventing and Ending Mass Atrocities)
  • US-based group PAEMA (Preventing and Ending Mass Atrocities)
  • Reuters
  • BBC News
  • Al Jazeera

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