Tom Fletcher, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator, expressed deep concern about reports of civilian casualties and forced displacement due to the intense fighting in the city.
“As combatants advance further into the city and escape routes are blocked, hundreds of thousands of civilians find themselves trapped and frightened—subjected to bombings, starvation, and without access to food, healthcare, or safety,” Mr. Fletcher said in a statement on Sunday.
He urged for “an immediate ceasefire in El Fasher, across Darfur, and throughout Sudan,” emphasizing the need for civilians to move safely and for the protection of humanitarian workers.
“Safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access must be provided to all civilians in need,” he stated. “Although we have crucial supplies, the escalation of attacks has made aid delivery impossible. Local aid workers continue risking their lives to save others amid the conflict.”
City under siege
El Fasher, the last major town in Darfur still under government control, has been besieged for over a year.
Media reports indicate that the RSF, a paramilitary group engaged in a brutal conflict against the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), claimed to have seized control of the town after capturing the army’s Sixth Division headquarters.
The Sudanese army has yet to comment, but losing El Fasher would represent a significant setback for government forces and possibly a turning point in the ongoing civil war ravaging the country since April 2023.
The conflict has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displacing over 11.7 million people, with 4.2 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to UN figures.
Numerous civilian casualties
United Nations agencies have reported a large number of civilian casualties and repeated attacks on medical facilities in the region in recent weeks.
At least 20 people were killed in strikes on a mosque and the Saudi hospital—the city’s last operational medical facility—earlier this month. This follows nearly 100 civilian deaths in September.
Hold perpetrators accountable
Mr. Fletcher condemned the ongoing targeting of civilians, hospitals, and humanitarian operations, urging all parties to adhere to international law.
“Those responsible for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law must be held accountable,” he stated.
He also reiterated the obligations outlined in Security Council resolution 2736 (2024), which demands an end to the siege of El Fasher, protection of civilians, and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Sudan.
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