El Fasher: El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, remains under a devastating siege that has trapped an estimated 260,000 civilians for more than 500 days, with humanitarian agencies warning of worsening atrocities. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have encircled the city, cutting off vital aid routes and constructing berms to prevent civilians from escaping, effectively turning the area into an open-air prison.

The United Nations has reported that at least 91 civilians were killed between September 19 and 29 during heavy bombardments, drone strikes, and ground attacks on residential neighborhoods, including Daraja Oula. Human rights monitors warn that the pattern of attacks suggests a risk of large-scale, ethnically driven atrocities. Recent strikes on displacement shelters and homes have killed women and children, compounding fears of systematic targeting.

Humanitarian conditions inside El Fasher are dire. Food supplies are dwindling, water is scarce, and health facilities have either been destroyed or are no longer functional. UNICEF has described the city as an epicentre of child suffering, with alarming rates of malnutrition and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera. Aid groups have reported that civilians face a stark choice between starvation inside the city and risking death if they attempt to flee.

More than 100 civil society and faith-based organizations, including Catholic entities, issued a joint appeal this week demanding immediate humanitarian corridors, voluntary evacuation routes, and accountability for attacks on civilians. They warn that the use of starvation and siege tactics violates international humanitarian law and must be urgently addressed.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for urgent action to prevent atrocities, while the UN Security Council has held consultations to discuss possible interventions. However, no breakthrough has been achieved in securing safe passage for civilians or in halting the violence.

Observers caution that unless decisive international pressure is applied, El Fasher could witness mass killings and forced displacement on a scale not seen since the earlier Darfur conflict. For now, civilians remain trapped, facing bombardments, disease, and hunger with little sign of relief.