Sudan's Darfur Region: Ishaq Mohammed's Month-Long Siege in El-Fasher Amidst Ongoing Army-Paramilitary Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
Ishaq Mohammed, a Sudanese shop owner, has been confined to his home in El-Fasher, Darfur, for a month due to ongoing violence between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The conflict, which has been ongoing for over a year, has been described as a war by experts, and Sudan is at risk of breaking apart.
The United Nations has declared a humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with famine threatening and over 8.7 million people displaced, the highest number in the world.
Darfur, in particular, has experienced some of the worst horrors of the conflict.
Experts and residents in El-Fasher, the North Darfur state capital, are living in fear as the Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has seized control of four out of five state capitals in Darfur.
The region, which is about the size of France and home to around one quarter of Sudan's population, has been under bombardment, making it impossible for residents to move or communicate.
El-Fasher, which had been protected by a fragile peace, has seen a surge in unrest since last month when two powerful armed groups that had helped maintain peace pledged to fight alongside the army.
The UN, world leaders, and aid groups have expressed concerns about potential carnage in El-Fasher, which has a population of 1.5 million people.
The text describes the ongoing conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, specifically in El-Fasher and surrounding areas.
The UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Toby Harward, reports systematic burning of villages, increased air bombardments, and a tightening siege.
Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab found that at least 23 communities in North Darfur have been burned in apparent arson.
The overall death toll from the war is unclear, with estimates ranging from 15,000-30,000, and some believing it could be as high as 150,000.
UN experts reported up to 15,000 people killed in El-Geneina, the West Darfur capital.
US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, emphasizes the invisibility and horrific nature of the war due to the uncertain death toll.
Last year, the non-Arab Massalit ethnic group in El-Geneina, Sudan, were subjected to killing and other abuses by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, resulting in over 745,000 people fleeing to neighboring Chad.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently investigating ethnic-based killings primarily by the RSF in Darfur and has "grounds to believe" both sides are committing atrocities in the conflict.
The potential for an all-out battle for control of El-Fasher, which has both Arab and African communities, could lead to widespread civilian bloodshed and revenge attacks across Darfur and beyond its borders.
In late April, the US ambassador to the UN warned of the imminent risk of a large-scale massacre in El-Fasher.
Eyewitnesses report fighting inside the Abu Shouk camp in Darfur, which was established 20 years ago for people displaced by ethnic violence.
The camp is now surrounded, and residents are trapped with limited food supplies.
The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed militia, have been accused of repeatedly besieging and setting fire to villages and displacement camps in Darfur.
The siege of El-Fasher has halted aid convoys and commercial trade, leading to shortages and exhaustion at the city's only remaining hospital, where doctors have been working tirelessly to treat injuries and malnutrition without leaving for fear of being targeted.
The Darfur region in Sudan is experiencing worsening hunger, with people now consuming grass and peanut shells due to food scarcity.
The situation is complicated by armed groups encircling El-Fasher and restricting movement along key roads, making it difficult for families to flee.
The RSF, one of the armed groups, has threatened to attack El-Fasher but has been deterred by a locally brokered truce and heightened international demands and warnings.
The army has also mounted defenses in key locations.
Early this year, the RSF declared victories across Sudan, but the situation has since become more complex.
The RSF militia in Sudan, led by Abdulwahid El-Nur, has reportedly ignored warnings about potential violence in El-Fasher.
Despite this, the group is preparing for a renewed offensive in the city, as peace talks between Sudan's warring factions are set to resume in Saudi Arabia.
El-Nur believes that a strong military position is necessary for the RSF to participate in the negotiations effectively.
The United Nations has declared a humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with famine threatening and over 8.7 million people displaced, the highest number in the world.
Darfur, in particular, has experienced some of the worst horrors of the conflict.
Experts and residents in El-Fasher, the North Darfur state capital, are living in fear as the Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has seized control of four out of five state capitals in Darfur.
The region, which is about the size of France and home to around one quarter of Sudan's population, has been under bombardment, making it impossible for residents to move or communicate.
El-Fasher, which had been protected by a fragile peace, has seen a surge in unrest since last month when two powerful armed groups that had helped maintain peace pledged to fight alongside the army.
The UN, world leaders, and aid groups have expressed concerns about potential carnage in El-Fasher, which has a population of 1.5 million people.
The text describes the ongoing conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, specifically in El-Fasher and surrounding areas.
The UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Toby Harward, reports systematic burning of villages, increased air bombardments, and a tightening siege.
Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab found that at least 23 communities in North Darfur have been burned in apparent arson.
The overall death toll from the war is unclear, with estimates ranging from 15,000-30,000, and some believing it could be as high as 150,000.
UN experts reported up to 15,000 people killed in El-Geneina, the West Darfur capital.
US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, emphasizes the invisibility and horrific nature of the war due to the uncertain death toll.
Last year, the non-Arab Massalit ethnic group in El-Geneina, Sudan, were subjected to killing and other abuses by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, resulting in over 745,000 people fleeing to neighboring Chad.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently investigating ethnic-based killings primarily by the RSF in Darfur and has "grounds to believe" both sides are committing atrocities in the conflict.
The potential for an all-out battle for control of El-Fasher, which has both Arab and African communities, could lead to widespread civilian bloodshed and revenge attacks across Darfur and beyond its borders.
In late April, the US ambassador to the UN warned of the imminent risk of a large-scale massacre in El-Fasher.
Eyewitnesses report fighting inside the Abu Shouk camp in Darfur, which was established 20 years ago for people displaced by ethnic violence.
The camp is now surrounded, and residents are trapped with limited food supplies.
The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed militia, have been accused of repeatedly besieging and setting fire to villages and displacement camps in Darfur.
The siege of El-Fasher has halted aid convoys and commercial trade, leading to shortages and exhaustion at the city's only remaining hospital, where doctors have been working tirelessly to treat injuries and malnutrition without leaving for fear of being targeted.
The Darfur region in Sudan is experiencing worsening hunger, with people now consuming grass and peanut shells due to food scarcity.
The situation is complicated by armed groups encircling El-Fasher and restricting movement along key roads, making it difficult for families to flee.
The RSF, one of the armed groups, has threatened to attack El-Fasher but has been deterred by a locally brokered truce and heightened international demands and warnings.
The army has also mounted defenses in key locations.
Early this year, the RSF declared victories across Sudan, but the situation has since become more complex.
The RSF militia in Sudan, led by Abdulwahid El-Nur, has reportedly ignored warnings about potential violence in El-Fasher.
Despite this, the group is preparing for a renewed offensive in the city, as peace talks between Sudan's warring factions are set to resume in Saudi Arabia.
El-Nur believes that a strong military position is necessary for the RSF to participate in the negotiations effectively.
Translation:
Translated by AI
