Voices from the Siege: Life Under Fire in el-Fasher, Sudan

Wed Oct 22 2025 08:21:41 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Amidst the conflict in Sudan, el-Fasher is facing a devastating siege, revealing harrowing stories of survival and loss from families trapped in the turmoil.

The Sudanese city of el-Fasher, under siege for 17 months by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, becomes a scene of horror and desperation. Civilians, including young Ahmed Abdul Rahman, suffer from severe injuries and lack access to medical care as fighting intensifies. Local residents share their heartbreaking experiences of loss and survival amidst escalating violence and limited resources, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis affecting the region.

In the besieged city of el-Fasher, 13-year-old Ahmed Abdul Rahman lies injured, describing the thud of artillery that reverberates through the makeshift camp where he awaits medical attention. His injuries, resulting from relentless shelling, epitomize the suffering faced by countless civilians trapped in this conflict.

For 17 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have tightened their grip on el-Fasher, a key stronghold in the Darfur region, sparking fears of a humanitarian disaster. I feel pain in my head and my legs, Ahmed whispers, his frail body covered in bandages. His mother, Islam Abdullah, is distraught, revealing that his body is filled with shrapnel, and medical help is nearly inaccessible.

As fighting continues, el-Fasher has witnessed a dramatic shrinking of army-held territory. The RSF's advances have been bolstered by drone strikes and sophisticated weaponry, further intensifying the suffering of civilians who are caught in the crossfire.

Hamida Adam Ali, another victim of the conflict, lay injured on the road for days without assistance. I don't know if my husband is dead or alive, she laments, her leg rotting due to lack of medical treatment, while her children face starvation each day.

The horrors of violence have escalated, with recent reports indicating mass casualties, including children killed during shelling at a school. Survivors narrate their heart-wrenching stories of escape and loss, capturing the grim reality of life under siege in el-Fasher.

The international community has been alerted to the situation, with warnings of escalating atrocities should the RSF fully capture the city. Despite the denials of targeting non-Arab ethnic groups, evidence from UN human rights investigations suggests widespread war crimes are being perpetrated against the local populace.

The plight of civilians like Ahmed and Hamida serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict in Sudan, compelling global attention and action to alleviate their suffering amidst this growing humanitarian crisis.