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United Nations

Sudan's Darfur Region Plunged into Crisis as Rapid Support Forces Take Control of El Fasher City

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Senior UN refugee agency (UNHCR) official Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet described the situation in Darfur as "chaotic" and "dire," with widespread ethnically and politically motivated killings, including reports of people with disabilities being executed and others being shot as they tried to escape. The UNHCR is responding to the crisis by providing protection services, counselling, and cash assistance to affected communities, but warns that destruction of infrastructure has left civilians with few resources.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have taken control of the key Sudanese city of El-Fasher in Darfur, triggering a significant outflow of civilians to Tawila, a city already hosting around 650,000 displaced.
  • Reports have emerged of massive killings in the city of Barah, located in the central Kordofan region, where the RSF recently seized control and carried out similar acts of violence.
  • The UNHCR official, Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet, warned that the situation is too dangerous for many civilians in El Fasher to move, with many being "too weak" to flee.
  • The UN secretary-general, Antnio Guterres, described the situation in Darfur as "chaotic" and "dire," with widespread ethnically and politically motivated killings, including reports of people with disabilities being executed.
  • Humanitarian agencies, including UNHCR and IOM, are responding to the crisis by providing protection services, counselling, and cash assistance to affected communities.
  • The IOM chief, Amy Pope, urged all sides in Sudan's conflict to protect civilians in El Fasher and allow "immediate, safe, and unhindered" humanitarian access.

Statistics:

  • 500 days of siege in El-Fasher have resulted in the reported taking over of the city by the RSF militia.
  • Around 60,000 people have been forced to flee El Fasher, with many walking for days under the scorching sun with no food, no shelter, no medicine.
  • Over 26,000 people have been forced to flee the city in just two days.
  • 650,000 displaced people are already hosted in Tawila, with an additional 60,000 arriving from El Fasher.
  • The UN secretary-general, Antnio Guterres, has described the situation in Darfur as "chaotic" and "dire" for the last 18 months.

Sources:

  • United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (ocha)
  • World Health Organization (who)
  • International Organization for Migration (iom)

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