In Sudan’s Al‑Faszir, the paramilitary RSF’s 500‑day siege has triggered mass killings, leaving most of the 260,000 residents trapped while only a handful seek refuge elsewhere.
Al‑Faszir Under Siege
UN Under‑Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher described Al‑Faszir as a “crime scene” with repeated targeted attacks on civilians.
At the end of October the city, capital of North Darfur, fell to the RSF after a prolonged siege. Satellite images show bodies, suspected mass graves, and widespread executions.
Humanitarian Response in Al‑Faszir
Doctors Without Borders was forced to leave Al‑Faszir last year and now operates in Tawila, 60 km away, and Rokero further north.
Field hospitals treat gunshot wounds, sexual violence victims, and severe malnutrition, while also expanding psychological support.
Displacement to Tawila and Rokero
Thousands of residents have fled to Tawila and Rokero, but aid agencies say supplies cover no more than 50 % of needs and clean water is scarce.
In Tawila alone there were over 700 000 displaced persons by the time the RSF secured Al‑Faszir, with rising infectious diseases and food shortages.
Refugees at the South Sudan Border
By November 10, 1.2 million people—including 65 % children—had crossed into South Sudan, many originally from South Sudan fleeing domestic war.
Reception points are eerily quiet and cholera can spread rapidly; Polish humanitarian aid focuses on clean water and hygiene to mitigate outbreaks.
Climate Change Exacerbates Hunger
Beyond conflict, the short rainy season and poor rainfall have turned the region into a famine zone, with floods damaging shelters and raising malaria risks.
People live in temporary corrugated‑metal shelters that heat up in the sun and become unbearably cold at night, increasing vulnerability to disease.
