El Fasher Siege: Thousands Trapped on the Edge of Survival

Thousands Trapped in El Fasher Siege: Starvation and Survival Amid Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis

Sudan’s last western stronghold, El Fasher, has been under siege for more than 500 days — a humanitarian catastrophe now being described as “uninhabitable.” Continuous attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have left the city in ruins, with over 250,000 civilians struggling to survive.

500+ Days of Horror: The Siege That Never Ends

For nearly 549 days, El Fasher has been completely surrounded by RSF fighters. The city has endured relentless artillery shelling, drone strikes, and food blockades. Humanitarian organizations are unable to reach the residents, leaving the population starving and isolated.

According to MedGlobal, a US-based humanitarian organization, 90% of homes in the city are either destroyed, looted, or damaged. Families that tried to flee were often abducted or killed.

“The siege has pushed El Fasher’s residents to the edge of survival,” said Joseph Belliveau, Executive Director of MedGlobal.

Starvation, Disease, and Death

Recent interviews with 900 refugees who escaped the city paint a horrifying picture. Three-quarters of them said they “rarely or never had food”, while half reported no access to clean water. Many walked for days to reach safety in Al Dabbah, Northern State.

Health screenings found widespread malnutrition — with one in five children under five acutely malnourished. Among pregnant and nursing women, 38% suffer from severe hunger, and 60% of teenage girls are dangerously underweight.

“I Smell Death Rather Than Life”

One woman who escaped El Fasher told MedGlobal: “In El Fasher, I smell death rather than life and hope.”

These words reflect the reality of a city slowly dying. RSF drone attacks have targeted shelters and hospitals — including the Al Saudi Hospital, where 13 people were killed last week.

City Declared “Uninhabitable”

MedGlobal’s report officially declared El Fasher “uninhabitable.” Residents are forced to live in trenches and underground bunkers to avoid constant shelling. Around 81% say they never feel safe moving through the city.

Even basic communication has collapsed — 86% of people have no access to phones or internet, cutting them off from the world.

Aid Hopes Dashed, Siege Tightens

Last month, U.S. officials claimed to have brokered a deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and RSF to allow humanitarian aid into the city. But those efforts have since collapsed, and the RSF has tightened its siege even further by building massive earthen barriers to trap civilians.

The Sudanese army recently conducted airdrops of food and medicine — a temporary relief. Yet supplies remain scarce, and many families are surviving on nothing but hope.

“A War on Children”

The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights has called the Sudan conflict “a war on children.” According to their report, minors are facing mass starvation, forced displacement, and deliberate attacks.

The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, condemned both RSF and Sudanese forces for continuous killing of civilians in El Fasher, calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Global Response & Future Uncertainty

While the UK government has doubled its Sudan aid to £230 million, humanitarian workers warn that time is running out. Without urgent international intervention, El Fasher may soon fall — and tens of thousands could die.

El Fasher’s tragedy is a reminder that amidst the noise of global politics, ordinary lives continue to fade in silence.