El Fasher, a city under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, has become a ghost town as residents flee escalating violence and dwindling supplies. Aisha, a 31-year-old married to a soldier in the Sudanese Armed Forces, recounted her harrowing escape via the city’s western gate, the only exit not controlled by the RSF. The perilous roads out of El Fasher are riddled with checkpoints manned by armed groups demanding payments, adding to the distress of the fleeing residents.
The conflict has intensified with the RSF’s recent offensive to seize El Fasher, aiming to control all major population centers in Darfur. This area has seen brutal conflicts since April 2023, between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The ongoing violence has led to a humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands displaced and many facing acute hunger.
Aid workers and locals describe the roads out as fraught with danger, from shelling and bandit attacks, making every attempt to leave a gamble with death. Despite the risks, the roads west towards Tawila, controlled by a neutral rebel group, remain one of the few escape routes.
This mass exodus from El Fasher highlights the severe impact of the conflict on civilians, who not only face the immediate threats of violence but also the long-term challenges of displacement and scarcity of essentials like food and water. The international community continues to watch as Sudan grapples with one of the world’s most overlooked humanitarian crises.