Tens of thousands of Sudanese have been forced to flee to overcrowded camps due to escalating violence and reported atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since capturing el-Fasher, the capital of the western Darfur region, on October 26, 2023, the RSF has caused widespread panic, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
Many fleeing individuals have reached Tawila, located approximately 43 miles from el-Fasher, where conditions are dire. According to the aid group Sudan’s IDPs and Refugee Camps, the camps are overwhelmed, with makeshift shelters made from patched tarps and sheets. A video shared by the group depicts children navigating the barren landscape while adults carry food, struggling to provide for the swelling number of displaced persons.
Since the RSF’s takeover, over 16,200 people have sought refuge in Tawila, as reported by Adam Rojal, spokesperson for the aid organization. The International Organization for Migration estimates that roughly 82,000 individuals have fled el-Fasher and surrounding areas by November 4, 2023, many making the risky journey on foot to find safety. Tawila, already burdened by earlier displacements, faces severe shortages of food and medical supplies.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army has persisted since April 2023, following rising tensions over control of Sudan, Africa’s third-largest nation. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 40,000 people have died in the ongoing violence, although the actual number may be significantly higher. Currently, around 12 million people are displaced, with nearly half of Sudan’s population facing acute food insecurity.
Reports indicate that the RSF has committed egregious acts since seizing el-Fasher. The paramilitary group allegedly carried out attacks resulting in over 450 deaths at the Saudi Hospital and engaged in targeted violence against civilians. Despite the RSF’s denial of these events, testimonies from survivors and documented evidence present a troubling narrative.
In Tawila, humanitarian groups like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have reported alarming levels of malnutrition among both children and adults. Rojal emphasized the urgent need for food, medical supplies, and shelter materials, noting that many families are surviving on as little as two meals a day, and sometimes just one.
U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed grave concerns for those still trapped in el-Fasher. In a statement made in Geneva, he highlighted that “traumatized civilians are still trapped inside el-Fasher and are being prevented from leaving.” Türk warned that the ongoing violence might continue to escalate, with acts of summary executions and sexual violence being reported.
Despite the dire situation, the RSF announced that it has agreed to a humanitarian truce proposed by a U.S.-led mediator group known as the Quad. The Sudanese army has indicated its conditional support for the truce, stating that they will only proceed if the RSF withdraws from civilian areas and lays down their arms.
The conflict has not only devastated Darfur but also extended to the neighboring Kordofan region, which has seen increased violence in recent months. A drone attack in el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, claimed the lives of at least 40 people earlier this week. A military official disclosed that the army intercepted two Chinese-made drones targeting the area, revealing the ongoing threats faced by civilians.
Analyst Jalale Getachew Birru from Armed Conflict Location and Event Data noted that the fall of el-Fasher represents a strategic gain for the RSF, while simultaneously exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. He estimated that at least 2,000 people may have died across Sudan within just one week, from October 26 to November 1, 2023.
Birru’s analysis indicates that the RSF’s growing military capacity poses risks to the stability of central Sudan, threatening to reignite violence in previously calmer regions. The ongoing conflict underscores the urgent need for international attention and humanitarian assistance as the situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate.
