Desperation in Sudan: Civilians on the Brink as Siege Crisis Deepens

Thu Oct 16 2025 06:38:41 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As food supplies dwindle in el-Fasher, Sudan, researchers warn of potential war crimes by the Rapid Support Forces. Civilians are trapped amidst ongoing bombardment and humanitarian crises.

In the besieged city of el-Fasher, Sudan, civilians are running out of food amid allegations of war crimes by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Yale researchers report significant casualties and the creation of new burial sites, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation as the city remains encircled and communication becomes increasingly difficult.

Desperation in Sudan: Civilians on the Brink as Siege Crisis Deepens

As el-Fasher faces a humanitarian crisis, satellite imagery reveals that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are allegedly committing war crimes by deliberately targeting civilians. Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab has unveiled alarming evidence showcasing the rapid increase in burial sites, indicative of rising civilian death tolls.

In just a fortnight, over 60 new mounds have appeared, signalling a severe humanitarian crisis, reported Caitlin Howarth from the lab. As the RSF has constructed a substantial earthen wall enclosing the city, the residents are finding themselves trapped and devoid of escape routes.

Local activist groups have issued statements confirming that all food supplies in el-Fasher have been exhausted. There is nothing left to eat today, the resistance committee lamented. The scarcity has forced residents to abandon even the most basic alternatives, exacerbating the crisis as desperation mounts.

The situation has worsened since the onset of civil war in April 2023, following a power struggle between military forces and the RSF, with the latter accused of systematically targeting non-Arab ethnic communities. Reports suggest that communications have become sporadic, hampered by a blackout, making real-time updates difficult.

On the ground, the crisis is escalating. The resistance committee warns of a deteriorating situation for nearly 300,000 trapped residents, calling for urgent international intervention and humanitarian access to be re-established without risk of violence.

Yale researchers also noted that the bombardments have focused on shelters, mosques, and hospitals, leading to significant casualties and damage. Civilians have been driven from displacement camps and forced into ever-smaller areas of refuge, where they continue to face violent offensives.

As the death toll rises, the humanitarian implications are dire. Calls for peace and safe passage out of el-Fasher are becoming increasingly vital. Experts assert that the global community must act swiftly to halt these actions, which might rise to the level of crimes against humanity.