A heavy toll is being exacted on civilians in El-Fasher, Sudan, as a siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies. Ahmed Abdul Rahman, a 13-year-old boy, embodies the plight of many, reeling from the aftermath of shelling.
I feel pain in my head and my legs, he whispers, lying on a blanket surrounded by makeshift tents, drawing attention to the pain that characterizes life under prolonged artillery bombardment.
Since the conflict erupted in 2023 over a power struggle between rival military groups, the RSF has tightened its siege of El-Fasher, which serves as the last bastion of the Sudanese army in Darfur. Civilians trapped within the city face increasingly dire conditions, lacking access to medical care as hospitals become targets and supplies dwindle.
Families like Ahmed's are suffering not only from injuries but from starvation as well. His mother, Islam Abdullah, reveals disheartening truths about their situation, stating, His whole body is full of shrapnel. His condition is unstable, while lifting Ahmed's shirt to show the horrifying wounds that reflect their daily struggle for survival amid hunger.
Nearby, Hamida Adam Ali shares chilling details of her own ordeal—being unable to move with a leg injury after lying exposed to the elements for five days following shelling. I don’t know if my husband is dead or alive, she laments, spotlighting the emotional toll the conflict takes on families torn apart by violence.
The RSF have recently captured strategic locations in El-Fasher. Their advancement is purportedly reinforced by foreign military assistance, including drones—alleged to be supplied by the UAE—which has drawn condemnation for targeting civilian infrastructure along with military sites.
Civilians continue to be caught in the crossfire as the RSF's power solidifies, leading to fears of further atrocities should they gain full control of the city, a situation compounded by reports of an increase in war crimes against non-Arab ethnic groups in the region.
As more populate shelters seeking safety, the mass exodus continues, but those who remain are left in limbo, uncertain about the immediate future. The ongoing conflict has not only devastated lives but has irrevocably altered their memories associated with El-Fasher, turning it into a haunting reminder of loss.
