The humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s war-torn city of al-Fashir has reached catastrophic levels, with widespread starvation, escalating violence, and a collapse of essential services pushing the civilian population to the brink of survival. According to multiple eyewitness accounts and aid agencies, hundreds of thousands remain trapped as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) tighten their siege on the Sudanese Armed Forces' last stronghold in Darfur.

Cemeteries are expanding rapidly in and around al-Fashir, where mass burials have become a daily routine. The city, once a refuge for displaced civilians, has now turned into a zone of death, disease, and desperation. With power outages, empty bakeries, and medical facilities barely functioning, hunger has emerged as the leading cause of death, overtaking even direct conflict-related fatalities.

Residents have been forced to consume animal feed and wild plants in the absence of regular food supplies. Reports from the UN and local health workers indicate that famine conditions (IPC Phase 5) have gripped camps such as Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and al-Salam. In these areas, humanitarian aid has all but ceased, with some camps reportedly recording more than 100 deaths per day due to hunger and disease.

The blockade enforced by RSF forces has severely hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid. Relief agencies face mounting difficulties, including demands for registration with RSF-affiliated bodies, restrictions on movement, and direct attacks on convoys. In several cases, relief vehicles attempting to enter al-Fashir were fired upon or looted.

As civilians attempt to flee the city, the journey itself has become deadly. Dozens have been killed or injured along routes to nearby towns like Tawila, which itself is overwhelmed by new arrivals and lacks food, clean water, and shelter. Aid workers report severe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and a growing cholera outbreak. More than 2,500 cases have been recorded in the region, resulting in at least 52 confirmed deaths.

Amid the humanitarian collapse, Sudan’s political fragmentation continues to deepen. The RSF has declared a parallel government in Darfur, installing its own political leadership in defiance of the internationally recognized army-led administration. Analysts warn that this development could mark the beginning of a formal division of Sudan, reminiscent of the 2011 secession of South Sudan.

International aid organizations are urging all parties to establish humanitarian corridors and cease hostilities around civilian populations. However, with both military and political interests entrenched, a resolution to the conflict appears distant. As the siege of al-Fashir intensifies, the city stands as a grim symbol of the suffering inflicted by war, famine, and political division in Sudan.