The humanitarian situation in and around El Fasher, Sudan, is dire. As fighting continues unabated, hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped, with all trade routes and supply lines cut off, and humanitarian organisations unable to deliver lifesaving aid for over a year. The price of food staples is surging, leaving families unable to afford basic items, even when they are available. People are starving as a result: famine was confirmed in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps close to El Fasher in August 2024 and has spread since.
Famine was confirmed in the IDP camps close to El Fasher in August 2024
According to recent reports, over 60 people have already reportedly died from malnutrition during the past week. The civilians of North Darfur – especially women and girls – have been exposed to horrific violations, including alarming rates of conflict-related sexual violence, since the onset of the conflict in April 2023. Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including markets and hospitals, have left the population with no access to healthcare.
The recent attack on Abu Shouk IDP camp killed at least 40 civilians according to local sources
These violations are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern of abuses committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor stated in July 2025 that there are reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been, and continue to be, committed in Darfur.
The situation is not unique to El Fasher. Similar famine-like conditions persist in other areas of Sudan, especially in the Kordofans due to brutal hostilities across the states and the ongoing siege of Kadugli.
As fighting continues unabated in North Darfur, Sudan, hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped in and around the city of El Fasher besieged by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
All trade routes and supply lines have been cut off, and humanitarian organisations have been unable to deliver lifesaving aid for over a year
The international community must take immediate action. Joint donor statement on the situation in and around El Fasher, Sudan, was signed by 29 donors.
“We urge all parties to the conflict to guarantee the immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to populations in need as well as protecting and preventing violations against civilians, in particular women and children and including humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure at all times.
To this end, we specifically call on the RSF and their allies to halt the siege on El Fasher, as requested under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024). We urge the RSF to grant a humanitarian pause for rapid, safe and unconditional humanitarian access to the people in need and safe passage of civilians to leave areas of active hostilities on a voluntary basis, in the direction they choose.
The international community must take immediate action
We further call on the SAF to renew their agreement to this humanitarian pause in El Fasher and put in place the necessary approvals to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations.
We reiterate our call on the SAF to permanently open the Adré border crossing point for humanitarian actors, to lift bureaucratic impediments and to allow timely delivery of humanitarian and basic needs assistance across the country.
We call on all parties to urgently allow UN-led convoys and sustained UN presence, including senior international staff, across Sudan’s territory, especially in the Darfurs and Kordofans, to enable the rapid scale up of humanitarian assistance to the population in need.
The future of humanity depends on collective action
Civilians must be protected, and humanitarian access must be granted. Accountability must be ensured.
The situation in El Fasher, Sudan, is a stark reminder of the need for collective action to protect civilians in conflict zones.
The recent attack on Abu Shouk IDP camp killed at least 40 civilians according to local sources
The RSF’s actions have already resulted in significant harm to civilians, and their continued siege of El Fasher can only exacerbate this humanitarian crisis.
The situation is not unique to El Fasher. Similar famine-like conditions persist in other areas of Sudan, especially in the Kordofans due to brutal hostilities across the states and the ongoing siege of Kadugli.
These patterns of violence have been well-documented by human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
The international community has a responsibility to hold all parties accountable for their actions and to ensure that humanitarian access is granted to those in need.
In light of these developments, we urge policymakers, journalists, and educated readers to engage with this issue and to call for action.
The situation in El Fasher, Sudan, is a stark reminder of the need for collective action to protect civilians in conflict zones
We must not stand idly by while thousands of civilians suffer and die as a result of the actions of armed groups.
We urge all parties to the conflict to guarantee the immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to populations in need as well as protecting and preventing violations against civilians, in particular women and children and including humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure at all times.