Over 400,000 individuals have fled their homes in El Fasher, North Darfur, since clashes erupted in April, reports the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Many have sought refuge in Zamzam camp and surrounding areas amid ongoing violence and restricted access to the town.
OCHA highlighted that only a limited number of aid organizations are currently operating in the region, collaborating with UN agencies to provide much-needed support. However, the persistent conflict continues to endanger civilians and disrupt aid delivery.
In related efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it had sent over 17 metric tonnes of supplies to support three humanitarian partners last month. Meanwhile, UNICEF has facilitated water trucking services and maintained 120 water sources in and around El Fasher, including Zamzam camp. UNICEF is also supporting outpatient nutrition treatment at six locations in El Fasher and Abu Shouk camp. Since January, nearly 3,000 metric tonnes of UNICEF’s educational, health, and nutrition supplies have reached North Darfur.
Additionally, the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, managed by OCHA, has been critical in delivering assistance such as shelter, food, water, sanitation, healthcare, and protection services to affected populations in El Fasher.
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 as fighting between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has claimed over 14,000 lives and injured 33,000 people, according to UN reports. The ongoing violence has displaced millions, creating one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
In East Al Jazirah, where the RSF has been accused of severe human rights violations, the situation remains dire. A local monitoring group, the Al Jazirah Conference, reported that more than 1,000 individuals have died in the region. Many deaths have been attributed to RSF attacks, the spread of diseases, and a lack of access to healthcare caused by the conflict.
The hardest-hit area, Hilaliya, recorded 610 deaths, while Wad Asheeb reported 56 fatalities, mainly due to healthcare shortages. In Rufaa, deaths have surpassed 128, with some sources suggesting the figure may exceed 300.
The Al Jazirah Conference has accused the RSF of numerous atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, forced displacement, and the destruction of property and crops. Reports also indicate that villages remain under siege, with the RSF restricting movement and looting medical facilities, markets, and agricultural resources.
Efforts to deliver aid and address the escalating humanitarian crisis remain hindered as violence persists across affected regions.