In El-Fasher, the only major city in Sudan's western Darfur region still controlled by the army, the conflict has escalated into a humanitarian crisis.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at odds with the regular army since April 2023, has launched its most aggressive assault on the city to date.

Recent reports from witnesses, volunteer groups, and aid workers reveal an increase in RSF bombardment of El-Fasher and a nearby displacement camp.

This includes relentless artillery fire, drone strikes, and ground incursions into the city.

The United Nations has described El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state where approximately 300,000 people reside, as an "epicenter of child suffering." Those who manage to escape the deteriorating conditions in the city report that the route out is lined with dead bodies.

The absence of clean water, medicine, and the prevalence of diseases further exacerbate the dire situation.

Humanitarian worker Mohamed Khamis Douda appeals for intervention, emphasizing the urgent need to stop fighting and save lives.

Since May 2024, El-Fasher has been under siege by the RSF, resulting in a complete blockade of the city.

No aid or trade can enter, and escape routes are perilous.

The constant bombardment and restricted communication severely limit the documentation of life inside the besieged city.

Residents report that filming certain areas puts them at risk of attack.

A rare glimpse into the situation within El-Fasher shows children huddled around a single pot of food in a smoke-filled communal kitchen, while women stir a mass of brown paste for families waiting anxiously for their next meal.

The sounds of incoming mortars and gunfire are ever-present as the RSF forces push to capture the city and the adjacent Abu Shouk camp.

Famine has already been declared in these areas last year, with concerns that it could spread to El-Fasher.

Residents of El-Fasher rely heavily on communal kitchens for sustenance; however, even these lifelines are vanishing as supplies dwindle.

The traditional Sudanese dish assida is being replaced by ombaz, a harmful animal feed made from peanut shells, which can be deadly for humans.

According to UN estimates, nearly 40 percent of children under five in El-Fasher suffer from acute or severe malnutrition.

Community leader Adam Essa reported that at least five children die daily in the nearby Abu Shouk camp.

Following their loss of Khartoum to the army in March, the RSF has focused on consolidating its control over Darfur by launching offensives against key cities and displacing populations.

Their recent campaign targets the El-Fasher airport, certain neighborhoods, and the Abu Shouk camp, aiming to establish a rival authority in the region.

The violence at the Abu Shouk camp has caused significant displacement towards El-Fasher and further west to towns like Tawila.

However, the escape route from El-Fasher, a 70-kilometer rugged road leading westward, has become a graveyard, littered with dozens of unburied bodies.

Local activists report that many have succumbed to hunger, thirst, or violence.

For those who remain in El-Fasher, the situation remains dire.

Ibrahim Essa, his family, and other civilians find refuge in makeshift bomb shelters, bracing for shelling attacks.

Saleh Essa, a civil servant, recounts the perilous journey to Tawila with his family, where they face scarcity of water and food.

For many residents of El-Fasher, escape is not an option due to lack of resources.

"We have no money," said Halima Hashim, a schoolteacher and mother of four, expressing the grim reality faced by those unable to leave.