Eyewitnesses Reveal Horror of “Fasher”: From Assault on Women to Killing and Looting
The English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, reports that El Fasher in central North Darfur has become a stark symbol of humanitarian disaster. Civilians face a slow death as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have destroyed the city’s last hopes-charitable centers known as takayas, remaining markets, and hospitals-exacerbating the plight of its people. Humanitarian organizations continue to operate under severe restrictions and mortal danger while attempting to provide aid.
Amid this critical situation, many residents are desperately trying to escape the city now controlled by militias. However, these groups have blocked all exit routes. Displaced persons in northern Sudan told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that living conditions are catastrophic.
Looting and Starvation
The besieging militias in El Fasher have employed starvation tactics by shutting down takayas, markets, and informal businesses vital for daily survival. This information comes from several refugees who fled to tayla town 60 kilometers away from El Fasher.
A refugee who wished to remain anonymous said: “We faced various forms of torture, hunger, and killings. even handcarts pulled by animals-used by elderly and displaced children-were not spared.” he added: “They killed animals and burned trees while preventing us from leaving.The militias looted whatever possessions remained.”
Nafrah Mahmoud recounted how she escaped with her children last Thursday after conditions worsened. She described El Fasher as a ghost town where movement is dangerous or forbidden most times. All essential services-including water supply and food distribution-have been destroyed; markets are closed making life especially hard for children and the elderly. “They looted our homes,” she said.
Mohamed Osman, an official at one of El Fasher’s charity centers (takayas), explained that these were once the only refuge citizens relied on. After militias took over,all resources supporting takaya operations were destroyed; some centers closed entirely while many workers were killed deliberately starving people into death.
He added: “Takayas used to serve one meal per day; sometimes due to lack of water or firewood we distributed uncooked vegetables available.”
Bribes and Abuse Demanded for Exit
Refugees reported that RSF militants force people to pay millions of Sudanese pounds for exit permits out of El Fasher. They also conduct invasive searches on women seeking money valuables or communication devices.
Aisha Ismail told her story: “We did not expect Rapid Support Forces would humiliate women through body searches just to seize money or gold jewelry.” She said displaced persons possessed nothing but were weakened by starvation without medical care.
She further remarked that when women cannot pay bribes they must surrender one woman among them so others can leave safely.
The United Nations High Commissioner for refugees confirmed an unprecedented surge in violence in el Fasher has displaced approximately 260,000 people.
Aid workers face escalating challenges including arbitrary detention and harassment amid reports that around 15 tons of medical supplies ready for delivery remain blocked by RSF forces.
A health official who escaped reported hospitals have been destroyed; medical equipment was lost or looted; medicines stolen; all patients labeled as war casualties linked with armed groups were killed under false pretenses.
Mervan-a journalist requesting partial anonymity-noted worsening humanitarian disaster describing locals eating tree leaves due to severe food shortages.
He emphasized scarcity extends even to medications like serum injections while militias set warehouses ablaze before plundering livestock houses along with key services’ infrastructure such as wells, hospitals,and markets alike.
