Escalating fighting in El Fasher, Sudan traps civilians amid civil war

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since mid-April 2023, following escalating tensions between military and paramilitary leaders. The violence has particularly intensified in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, where humanitarian conditions have deteriorated significantly. The United Nations has reported that famine has struck the nearby Zamzam camp, which houses around 500,000 displaced individuals, and nearly 1.7 million people in North Darfur are facing acute food insecurity. The ongoing fighting has resulted in over 14,000 deaths and 33,000 injuries, with civilians, especially women and children, bearing the brunt of the violence. Humanitarian operations are urgently needed, as the U.N. has called for a ceasefire and unimpeded access for aid delivery. However, both warring factions have largely ignored these calls, leading to increased shelling and attacks on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals. Currently, only one of the three main hospitals in El Fasher is operational, and the situation in Zamzam camp is dire, with reports of a child dying every two hours due to malnutrition. The U.N. has identified 13 other localities in Sudan at risk of famine, highlighting the widespread humanitarian crisis. As floodwaters recede, there is hope for the delivery of food and assistance, but without a significant de-escalation of violence and cooperation from both sides, the humanitarian situation is expected to worsen, leading to a dramatic increase in mortality rates across the region.