NAIROBI, Oct. 31, 2025 – The humanitarian situation in Sudan has escalated into a full-blown catastrophe following the capture of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The fall of the city, which was the last stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the vast Darfur region, has triggered dire warnings from the United Nations and human rights groups of a "looming massacre" and a devastating new chapter in the country's brutal 18-month civil war.
A Sanctuary Becomes a Trap
El-Fasher was more than just a military objective; it was a sanctuary. The city's population had swelled to over 1.5 million people, including hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had fled ethnic violence and fighting elsewhere in Darfur.
After a brutal, months-long siege that choked off all food, water, and medical supplies, the RSF launched a final, devastating assault. The city's defenses collapsed, and the RSF now controls the entire Darfur region.
The humanitarian situation is described as "aggravating beyond comprehension":
Mass Atrocities Feared: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued urgent warnings of "retaliatory ethnic killings" and mass atrocities. The RSF, which evolved from the notorious Janjaweed militias responsible for the Darfur genocide in the 2000s, is reportedly hunting for opponents and civilians from non-Arab ethnic groups.
Hospitals Destroyed: During the siege, the city's main hospitals were repeatedly shelled and put out of service. Now, there is virtually no medical care available for the thousands of wounded civilians.
Humanitarian Aid Cut Off: El-Fasher was the central hub for all international aid in Darfur. With its fall, the RSF has effectively cut off the lifeline for millions of people across the region who are already facing famine-like conditions.
Mass Exodus: Tens of thousands of terrified civilians are attempting to flee the city on foot, heading into the desert with no food, water, or protection, creating a new wave of displacement.
Echoes of Genocide
The international community is watching in horror as history appears to be repeating itself. The U.S. has previously stated that the RSF is responsible for "crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing." The fall of el-Fasher now gives the paramilitary force unchecked control over the entire region, leaving millions of civilians at their mercy.
"The situation in el-Fasher is a nightmare," said a spokesperson for a UN aid agency. "For months, the world watched this city being strangled. Now, our worst fears are being realized. We are receiving reports of large-scale violence. This is no longer just a crisis; it is a human catastrophe."
Global leaders are calling for an immediate ceasefire and the creation of a humanitarian corridor, but with the RSF consolidating its victory, the prospects for aid reaching the trapped and terrified population of Darfur appear grim.