ESCALATING violence in El Fasher has forced an estimated 26,000 people to flee Sudan’s North Darfur capital in recent days, as the Rapid Support Forces moved into the city after a 500-day siege, the UN refugee agency has reported.
“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply concerned as escalating, brutal violence in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur region, has forced thousands of civilians to flee, leaving many others trapped inside the city with few options,” said Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet, UNHCR spokesperson and Head of Sub Office in Port Sudan, at a press briefing in Geneva.
Civilians fleeing the fighting faced armed checkpoints, extortion, arbitrary arrests, detention, looting and harassment as they tried to reach safety, according to the agency. Many have sought refuge in the town of Tawila, 50 kilometres from El Fasher.
“Testimonies from those arriving in the town of Tawila, 50 kilometres from El Fasher, suggest that what was already an alarming humanitarian and protection crisis is spiralling rapidly,” Parlevliet said.
The UN official reported grave protection violations, including widespread sexual violence against women and girls by armed groups during attacks and while fleeing, along with reports of executions in El Fasher.
“UNHCR strongly urges all parties to refrain from violence and especially attacks on civilians along displacement routes. Civilians should never be targeted, and their safe passage must be guaranteed,” she said.
Additional displacement has been reported across North Darfur, with more people expected to flee in the coming days and weeks, including across the border to Chad, where UNHCR and partners are ready to assist new arrivals.
In Tawila, families—especially children—are arriving malnourished, sick and traumatised, according to UNHCR. The agency is providing life-saving assistance, including shelter, basic necessities, cash assistance and counselling at multi-purpose community centres.
“We call for safe, unhindered and immediate access for humanitarian actors to reach people in urgent need. Compliance with international humanitarian law is an obligation, not an option,” Parlevliet said.
Severely disrupted communications have made it difficult to obtain updates from civilians still in El Fasher, and current insecurity continues to block access, preventing the delivery of life-saving assistance to those trapped without food, water and medical care.
UNHCR also expressed concern about the recent fall of the town of Bara in North Kordofan, which has resulted in further displacement of thousands within the state, and warned of a possible siege of El Obeid.
“We are concerned about a possible siege of the town of El Obeid, hosting tens of thousands of internally displaced Sudanese, which would further exacerbate humanitarian needs in the region,” she said.
The 2025 humanitarian appeal for Sudan, described as the world’s largest displacement crisis, is only 27 percent funded, while needs continue to intensify, according to UNHCR.
