Paramilitary Strikes in Darfur Result in 13 Fatalities, Including 3 Children
Shelling by the Rapid Support Forces in El-Fasher leads to casualties as the United Nations seeks a humanitarian truce.
In Khartoum, it has been reported that paramilitary shelling of the besieged city of El-Fasher in Darfur, western Sudan, resulted in 13 deaths, including three children.
Additionally, 21 people were injured due to artillery fire from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a medical source speaking to AFP. The RSF has been engaged in conflict with the regular Sudanese army since April 2023 and has been laying siege to North Darfur's capital for over a year, attempting to capture the city which is home to approximately one million people.
The strikes occurred just hours before the Transitional Sovereignty Council announced an agreement with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a week-long humanitarian truce in El-Fasher aimed at aiding trapped civilians and facilitating access to much-needed aid.
The United Nations has repeatedly highlighted the dire situation facing civilians within the city, where conditions have become increasingly severe due to restricted access of aid.
Hunger has forced residents to resort to extreme measures such as consuming leaves and peanut shells.
Health facilities are scarce, with nearly all being forced to close due to ongoing conflict.
Furthermore, an attack on a World Food Programme facility in El-Fasher last month caused significant damage, while five aid workers were killed in June when their UN convoy was targeted while attempting to deliver supplies.
The RSF's persistent attacks have led to hundreds of civilian deaths and has displaced hundreds of thousands more.
According to UNICEF, at least 825,000 children are trapped within or around El-Fasher, facing what they describe as 'hell on earth' conditions.
Despite the RSF controlling much of Darfur since early in the conflict, they have yet to seize El-Fasher, which remains under siege.
An RSF source informed AFP that they had not received any ceasefire proposals.
The severity of the situation is exacerbated by a lack of access to data needed for an official famine declaration, although widespread starvation has already taken hold in North Darfur.
Over one million people in the region are on the brink of famine, as per the latest UN figures.
Additionally, nearly 20% of Sudan's internally displaced population – totaling around 10 million individuals – reside in North Darfur, making it the largest internal displacement crisis worldwide.
Additionally, 21 people were injured due to artillery fire from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a medical source speaking to AFP. The RSF has been engaged in conflict with the regular Sudanese army since April 2023 and has been laying siege to North Darfur's capital for over a year, attempting to capture the city which is home to approximately one million people.
The strikes occurred just hours before the Transitional Sovereignty Council announced an agreement with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a week-long humanitarian truce in El-Fasher aimed at aiding trapped civilians and facilitating access to much-needed aid.
The United Nations has repeatedly highlighted the dire situation facing civilians within the city, where conditions have become increasingly severe due to restricted access of aid.
Hunger has forced residents to resort to extreme measures such as consuming leaves and peanut shells.
Health facilities are scarce, with nearly all being forced to close due to ongoing conflict.
Furthermore, an attack on a World Food Programme facility in El-Fasher last month caused significant damage, while five aid workers were killed in June when their UN convoy was targeted while attempting to deliver supplies.
The RSF's persistent attacks have led to hundreds of civilian deaths and has displaced hundreds of thousands more.
According to UNICEF, at least 825,000 children are trapped within or around El-Fasher, facing what they describe as 'hell on earth' conditions.
Despite the RSF controlling much of Darfur since early in the conflict, they have yet to seize El-Fasher, which remains under siege.
An RSF source informed AFP that they had not received any ceasefire proposals.
The severity of the situation is exacerbated by a lack of access to data needed for an official famine declaration, although widespread starvation has already taken hold in North Darfur.
Over one million people in the region are on the brink of famine, as per the latest UN figures.
Additionally, nearly 20% of Sudan's internally displaced population – totaling around 10 million individuals – reside in North Darfur, making it the largest internal displacement crisis worldwide.
