Desperate Struggle for Survival in Sudan's El-Fasher Amid Famine Crisis

Families in el-Fasher, Sudan, are facing starvation due to a prolonged blockade, exacerbated by civil war and violence.

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a dire warning regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis in el-Fasher, a city in western Darfur that has been under siege for over 16 months. This blockade, chiefly enforced by paramilitary forces from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has severely restricted access to food supplies, leaving the city's 250,000 residents in a precarious position. With the ongoing civil war that erupted in April 2023, local families are increasingly facing the threat of starvation.

The WFP has not been able to deliver food through road transport to el-Fasher for more than a year, and reports have emerged indicating that some inhabitants are resorting to eating animal fodder and food waste as conditions worsen. The agency currently highlights a drastic increase in prices for the limited food available. "Everyone in el-Fasher is facing a daily struggle to survive," stated Eric Perdison, the WFP's regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, underscoring the grim reality faced by the city's residents. Many have completely exhausted their resources and coping strategies due to the prolonged conflict.

Eyewitness accounts reveal the severity of the situation. An eight-year-old girl named Sondos, who recently fled el-Fasher, spoke of the haunting conditions, stating, "In el-Fasher there was a lot of shelling and hunger. Only hunger and bombs." The WFP reportedly has trucks prepared with food and nutrition assistance, but attempts at safe passage have repeatedly been thwarted, including a convoy in June that faced violent attack.

The UN is now advocating for a humanitarian truce to bring relief to el-Fasher, yet it remains uncertain whether either party to the conflict will comply with such efforts. The ongoing war has left more than 150,000 people dead across Sudan, with approximately 12 million others forced to abandon their homes, raising alarms over potential genocide in the regions affected by conflict.