Only a few civilians escape as RSF violence ravages Sudan’s El-Fasher, leaving thousands trapped
Survivors describe executions, beatings, and terror as only a few civilians manage to flee while tens of thousands remain stranded in El-Fasher.
Only a small number of civilians fleeing Sudan’s El-Fasher have reached safety, as violence and atrocities continue following the city’s takeover by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a French-based aid group has warned.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that more than 62,000 people fled the city between Sunday and Wednesday, out of roughly 260,000 residents as of late August. Reports indicate that tens of thousands remain trapped, while thousands more are unaccounted for.
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The city’s capture, confirmed last week, has sparked widespread violence and destruction. The Sudanese Armed Forces estimate that more than 2,000 people have been killed by the RSF since the offensive began.
According to aid group Solidarités International, most people fleeing on foot have struggled to reach nearby towns such as Tawila, about 50 kilometres away. In an earlier statement, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned that the influx has pushed the town’s limited resources and services to the breaking point.
Stuck on the roads
“Those are very small numbers considering the number of people who were stuck in El-Fasher. We keep hearing feedback that people are stuck on the roads and in different villages that are unfortunately still inaccessible due to security reasons,” Caroline Bouvard, Sudan country director for Solidarités International, told Al Jazeera.
She added that aid agencies are operating in a “complete blackout” from El-Fasher and rely on reports from surrounding areas, where up to 15,000 people are believed to be trapped.
“There’s a strong request for advocacy with the different parties to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach these people or that at least we can send in trucks to bring them back to Tawila.”
According to Bouvard, survivors report mass executions, beatings, sexual violence, and abductions, with some forced to pay ransoms.
The group also notes that thousands have been displaced to the al-Dabbah refugee camp in Sudan’s Northern State, where overcrowding has made access to food, water, shelter, and medical care urgent.
International mediators, including the US, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, have condemned the killings and urged safe access for aid.
“The RSF must stop engaging in retribution and ethnic violence; the tragedy in El Geneina must not be repeated,” the US Department of State said on Saturday, referring to the 2023 massacre of Masalit people in West Darfur.
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