Sudan El-Fasher Escapees Haunted by Blood and Corpses Amid Crisis

EL-FASHER, SUDAN — The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the regular army has escalated into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Tens of thousands have been killed, nearly 12 million displaced, and millions more face famine in what the United Nations calls the world’s largest hunger crisis.

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, is fueled in part by competition over Sudan’s valuable gold and oil resources. El-Fasher, a key city in western Darfur, fell to the RSF on October 26 after an 18-month siege, marking the army’s last stronghold in the region.

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes as civilians fled the city. Sixteen-year-old Mounir Abderahmane recalled watching gunfire and bloodshed at a hospital where his father, a soldier, lay wounded. “They summoned seven nurses and ushered them into a room. We heard gunshots and I saw blood seeping out from under the door,” he said. He escaped with his father, who tragically died during the journey westward to Chad.

Drone strikes intensified before the city’s fall, forcing residents into makeshift shelters with limited food. “Every time I went up to get some air, I saw new corpses in the street, often those of local people I knew,” said 53-year-old Hamid Souleymane Chogar, recounting the trauma. Others described navigating trenches filled with bodies and facing extortion at checkpoints, with fighters demanding hundreds of dollars for safe passage.

The RSF, which traces its origins to the Janjaweed militia responsible for past atrocities in Darfur, has been accused of widespread human rights violations, including killings, rape, and looting. The army too has faced accusations of brutality, reflecting the intense and brutal nature of the civil war.

Humanitarian organizations are struggling to provide aid. Tens of thousands of refugees have fled to camps in eastern Chad, such as the Tine transit camp, where overcrowding and food scarcity pose additional risks. Medical teams are working to relocate refugees to reduce crowding and address urgent health needs.

Analysts warn that the Sudan crisis is not only a regional catastrophe but also a significant test for the international community. The fight over natural resources and strategic cities underscores the complexity of the conflict and its devastating impact on civilians.

As the RSF and army continue to vie for control, the Sudan crisis remains a stark reminder of the human cost of power struggles and the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian intervention.