The ongoing conflict in Sudan’s North Darfur state has claimed the lives of more than 700 people in al-Fashir since May, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. In a statement issued on Friday, Türk called on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to end their siege of the city, describing the situation as “devastating lives every day on a massive scale.”
The UN’s human rights office documented at least 782 civilian deaths and over 1,143 injuries in the area since May. The casualties are attributed to relentless shelling by the RSF in densely populated residential areas and repeated airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces. Both sides deny targeting civilians, each blaming the other for the attacks in al-Fashir and nearby areas.
The UN warned that these assaults on civilians could constitute war crimes and urged an immediate halt to the violence.
The conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF, which has persisted for more than 18 months, has created a severe humanitarian crisis. Over 12 million people have been displaced, and aid agencies are struggling to deliver essential relief.
Al-Fashir remains a key frontline in the battle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, with fears that an RSF victory could lead to ethnic retribution, similar to events in West Darfur last year.