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In light of the fighting between the Sudanese army, supported by the joint forces formed by a number of elements of the movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement, and the Rapid Support Forces in the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State and the administrative capital of the stricken region, the city known as El Fasher El Sultan (named after Sultan Ali Dinar, the last Sultan of the Fur Sultanate), is experiencing difficult conditions, as hundreds of thousands of civilians are facing conditions described by witnesses and observers as harsh, in light of the constant exchange of shelling and counter-shelling.
While the continuous international appeals to stop the military operations in the city, which is home to huge numbers of displaced people, and includes the largest camps for those affected by the war that has engulfed the Darfur region since 2003, have not succeeded.
As the fighting intensified in El Fasher, the White House called for a halt to the fighting, noting that the escalation of fighting that has been ongoing for months threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of Sudanese, stressing that human suffering is increasing in the camps for the displaced.
In turn, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta Salami, expressed her deep sadness and frustration at the ongoing armed violence that is wreaking havoc in the city of El Fasher in North Darfur. Salami said:
This is deplorable and must stop. There is no excuse for direct attacks on civilians, their assets and essential facilities such as hospitals, which are protected under international humanitarian law. Parties to the conflict must refrain from targeting the city.
Initial reports indicate that fighting has escalated on a large scale in El Fasher, threatening the lives of thousands of people, particularly in IDP camps. While health facilities have also reportedly been affected, the number of civilian casualties has yet to be determined.
The UN official stressed that the ongoing conflict has claimed lives, reduced livelihoods and destroyed infrastructure, as El Fasher is home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons at risk of famine, including in Zamzam camp, where famine has been confirmed.
In addition, the ongoing conflict has devastated Sudan’s public health system with many facilities destroyed, looted or abandoned, leaving more than 5 million people without access to health care services.
“These attacks demonstrate the futility of armed violence in El Fasher,” added Nkweta Salami. “All parties to the conflict must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are protected from harm. These attacks in El Fasher violate every humanitarian principle.”
Read also:
Sudan: Major relief organizations warn of historic hunger crisis
Yasmine and her infant twins… an endless displacement from the hell of the Sudanese war
