UN Warns Sudan War ‘Spiraling Out of Control’ After RSF Seizes El-Fasher
The war in Sudan is rapidly deteriorating, with the United Nations warning today that the conflict is “spiraling out of control” following the seizure of el-Fasher, a key city in Darfur, by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking in Qatar, called for an immediate ceasefire in the two-year conflict, which has become one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. He stated that “hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped by this siege,” facing death from malnutrition, disease, and violence. Guterres also noted “credible reports of widespread executions since the Rapid Support Forces entered the city.” The RSF had besieged el-Fasher for 18 months, cutting off vital supplies to tens of thousands of residents.
Reports indicate the RSF may have killed over 450 people in a hospital and carried out ethnically targeted killings and sexual assaults during the city’s capture last week, though the RSF denies these allegations. The fighting, which began in April 2023, has already driven more than 14 million people from their homes and led to over 40,000 confirmed deaths – a figure aid groups believe is a significant underestimate. The escalating violence threatens to destabilize the wider region and exacerbate existing refugee crises. Yesterday, the Sudan Doctors Network reported seven deaths, including children, in a drone attack on a pediatric hospital in North Darfur. Displaced residents fleeing el-Fasher describe horrific conditions; Habib Allah Yakoub, who reached a displacement camp in Tawila after his home was destroyed, said he was shot while seeking water. The UNHCR is working to provide aid to those displaced.
Guterres emphasized the need to halt the flow of weapons into Sudan and establish accountability mechanisms for the “horrendous” crimes being committed. He added that international cooperation is crucial to stopping the fighting, and that a discussion about potential international peacekeeping forces is needed. World Vision is providing critical support to families affected by the conflict.
Officials say efforts to gather international support and leverage are underway to de-escalate the situation and address the urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan.
