Sudanese survivors of violence are now forced to consume charcoal and leaves due to extreme food scarcity, as tens of thousands flee violence in el-Fasher.
Survivors Resort to Eating Charcoal and Leaves Amid Sudan Humanitarian Crisis
Survivors Resort to Eating Charcoal and Leaves Amid Sudan Humanitarian Crisis
Despair grips the displaced population in Sudan as aid agencies raise alarm over dire living conditions.
Sudan's ongoing humanitarian crisis has reached alarming levels, with reports indicating that displaced citizens are resorting to consuming charcoal and leaves to stave off hunger. In the wake of an attack on Zamzam camp near el-Fasher, families are fleeing their homes and facing unimaginable hardships, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council's head of operations, Noah Taylor.
Witnesses describe the chaotic exodus to Tawila, where many are unfortunately succumbing to dehydration in the punishing heat. “We've heard stories of bodies still lying along the route between el-Fasher and Tawila,” Taylor shared during an interview with BBC's Newsday. He recounted the tragic tale of a young girl who undertook the perilous journey alone and was attacked during her escape, eventually succumbing to her injuries upon arrival in Tawila.
As the final city controlled by the Sudanese army and its allies, el-Fasher has become ground zero for the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has escalated over the past two years. The recent RSF assault on the Zamzam camp has exacerbated the situation, forcing longstanding residents—many who had taken refuge there for over two decades—to flee once again in a desperate search for safety.
Camp authorities and aid workers have reported that Tawila, now hosting around 130,000 to 150,000 displaced individuals, is ill-equipped to manage such a massive influx. The town is struggling under dire conditions, with insufficient food and water resources available to the needy. Recently, survivors have recounted horrifying details of burned homes and gunfire as they fled from the camp.
While the RSF has acknowledged its attack on Zamzam, it denies claims of atrocities. The unfolding crisis underscores the urgent need for international humanitarian interventions, as escalating violence forces even more people into a state of peril. This relentless struggle for survival in Sudan continues to attract attention, as aid agencies warn that the situation has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
