In North Darfur, Sudan, Doctors Without Borders reports that at least 56 individuals have lost their lives.
In South Hospital of the city, 454 injured people have been admitted since the weekend, with 56 of them reportedly passing away by a humanitarian group. The casualties and death toll may be higher than stated due to ongoing battles that are preventing many from reaching the medical facility.
Before the recent escalation, North Darfur had been considered a relatively safe spot compared to other regions of Darfur. However, the situation has drastically changed as snipers are now present on the streets, heavy artillery fire is common, and there's no safe place within the city.
Recent clashes in North Darfur have intensified due to the paramilitary force Rapid Support Forces (RSF) surrounding El Fasher. Reports on Wednesday from the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health show marked destruction in the eastern and southern areas of the city between May 10-14. This coincides with claims of ground confrontations and aerial assaults taking place in the area by RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, stated on Wednesday that El Fasher has been witnessing an escalation of hostilities, making the whole city vulnerable.
Two RSF commanders were placed under US sanctions on Wednesday for their involvement in overseeing the group's actions in Darfur.
A US State Department spokesperson expressed: "The RSF's military operation to encircle and lay siege to El Fasher in North Darfur has put hundreds of thousands of civilians' lives at risk."
A civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) started in April 2023. Since the outbreak of war, over 8.8 million people have been displaced, and 24.8 million require humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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Despite the ongoing conflict in North Darfur, efforts are needed to provide aid to the affected populations across Africa. As the situation in El Fasher continues to deteriorate, international organizations and governments should increase their support to prevent further loss of life and displacement.
Source: edition.cnn.com
