International attention towards Sudan has begun to increase as the country, which is embroiled in a civil war across the Darfur region, is seeing an increase in violence in North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher.
Satellite and video imagery analysis by the New York Times revealed that thousands of homes in El Fasher have been destroyed, displacing tens of thousands of residents. The fighters responsible are part of the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has roots in the notorious janjaweed militias that terrorized civilians in the early 2000s.
The RSF fighters, who have waged a civil war against Sudanese government soldiers, have seized control of the main highway, severely disrupting food supplies to the region. Hospitals have been forced to close due to the ongoing violence, resulting in a dire lack of medical care.
Concerns have been raised that should El Fasher fall, the military clash between fighters and Sudanese government soldiers could escalate to an ethnic slaughter like the region endured in the early 2000s, where the United Nations estimated that 300,000 people were killed in a genocide.
“The situation today bears all the marks of risk of genocide,” cautioned Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the top UN official on genocide prevention.
Residents of the city have begun walking up to 180 miles in search of safety despite immense dangers in the region. According to the New York Times, temperatures have exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and many women have been reported being sexually assaulted while traveling. Nearby areas are also in short supply of food and medicine.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has stated that it is investigating the conflict unfolding in the region. The ICC previously brought charges against Sudanese officials two decades ago for genocide. In a near-unanimous vote, the UN Security Council also demanded an end to the siege of the city.
