A senior UN official reported on Saturday that intense fighting involving “heavy weaponry” has erupted in El-Fasher, a major city in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.
According to Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, the violence has placed approximately 800,000 residents at risk. Civilians, some wounded, have been forced to seek medical assistance or flee the area amidst the conflict.
Nkweta-Salami expressed deep concern over the outbreak of clashes in El-Fasher, particularly troubled by the conflict parties’ disregard for calls to avoid attacking the city.
She highlighted the disturbing use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas, leading to numerous casualties both in the city center and its outskirts.
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating war for over a year, involving the army, led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
This conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced over 8.5 million people, marking it as the world’s most severe displacement crisis, according to the United Nations.
Notably, the RSF has captured four out of the five state capitals in Darfur, a region roughly the size of France and housing a quarter of Sudan’s 48 million population. El-Fasher remains the last major city in Darfur not under RSF control, with recent warnings from the United States about a potential offensive.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also voiced his concerns on Saturday regarding the ongoing war in Sudan, calling for an immediate ceasefire and an international collaborative effort to initiate a political resolution to restore stability in the country.
