The United Nations has reported that a devastating surge of violence in the besieged Sudanese city of El-Fasher and the adjacent Abu Shouk camp has resulted in the deaths of at least 89 people over a span of 10 days. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, stems from a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to tens of thousands of casualties across the nation.
El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been under RSF siege since May of the previous year. The UN human rights office highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that the recent attacks on civilians are unacceptable and necessitate an immediate cessation. UN spokesman Jeremy Laurence expressed concern that the actual death toll may be higher than reported, underscoring the grave nature of the violence. Among the fatalities, 16 have reportedly been identified as cases of summary executions, intensifying fears of ethnically motivated attacks that constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Simultaneously, the World Health Organization (WHO) has described a dire humanitarian and public health crisis in El-Fasher, exacerbated by ongoing combat, blockades, and mass displacement. WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier warned that civilians are grappling with acute food shortages and rising rates of malnutrition, along with severely limited access to healthcare services.
A significant cholera outbreak is compounding the existing humanitarian challenges across Darfur, impacting both communities and displacement camps. Lindmeier informed that all 18 states in Sudan are experiencing cholera, with reported cases reaching 48,768 and 1,094 deaths since the beginning of the year up to August 11. Cholera, an acute intestinal infection often spread through contaminated food and water, can become fatal within hours if not addressed, highlighting the critical need for improved medical interventions and humanitarian assistance in the beleaguered region.
