The death toll from the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) siege on Wad Ashib, a town in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state, has reached 69, as reported by a local monitoring group. Among the deceased, 42 were shot, while 27 others succumbed to conditions caused by the siege, including lack of medical care and food shortages.
The RSF launched its offensive last week, targeting Wad Ashib in a broader retaliation campaign across eastern Al Jazirah. The attack escalated into a full blockade, severely restricting the movement of residents and creating a dire humanitarian crisis.
Reports from monitoring groups revealed that RSF fighters forcibly displaced families, including women and children, from their homes. Displaced individuals now face harsh conditions along the banks of the Blue Nile, lacking essential resources such as food, medicine, and shelter.
Witnesses accuse the RSF of widespread violence, looting, and intimidation during the operation. Al Jazirah has been under RSF control since last year, with the force repeatedly accused of abuses, including killings and forced displacement. The RSF leadership denies these allegations, attributing the violence to rogue elements and rival factions.
The situation continues to raise serious concerns about the well-being of civilians trapped in conflict-affected areas of Sudan.