How the RSF Takeover of El-Fasher Compounded the Suffering of Sudan’s Children
In the dust-choked streets of El-Fasher in western Sudan, children cling to the hands of younger siblings as they flee the only homes they have ever known. Their eyes are wide with fear and hunger, and many are without parents. For nearly 18 months, El-Fasher has been trapped in a siege, caught between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces fighting for control.
Since the RSF seized the North Darfur capital on October 26, roughly 750 unaccompanied children have escaped to nearby towns, according to the Darfur Displaced and Refugees Coordination Committee, which shared this with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hadath TV in November.
This mass displacement happens amid rising reports of atrocities and despair. Dr. Aman Alawad, Sudan country director of the US-based NGO MedGlobal, told Arab News:
“This remains one of the worst child protection and nutrition crises in Sudan. The city has now fallen under the control of the Rapid Support Forces after nearly 18 months of siege and intense fighting. More than 130,000 children remain trapped in and around the city. Food, water, and health services have collapsed.”
Harrowing stories have surfaced from Darfur, including reports that RSF fighters separated families and killed children in front of their parents. UNICEF estimates that out of the 260,000 people still trapped in El-Fasher, about half—approximately 130,000—are children.
Summary
The RSF takeover of El-Fasher has trapped over 130,000 children amid a brutal siege, causing a severe humanitarian crisis marked by fear, hunger, and widespread violence.