Since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, the city of Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State, has entered a new phase of suffering and transformation. The city is no longer a symbol of relative stability in Darfur; rather, it has become one of the most volatile regions in Sudan after the Rapid Support Forces imposed a suffocating siege that threatens to erase it completely.
Today, Al-Fashir has become a reflection of the collapse of Sudan’s political and social systems, and a vivid image of escalating human suffering amidst the world’s silence. With intensified battles and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions, it has turned into a symbol of national tragedy and a critical turning point in the Sudanese war, and now stands as an icon of resilience that reflects the complexity of the challenges facing the entire country.
The signs of siege began to emerge gradually when the Rapid Support Forces closed supply and aid routes. The stranglehold widened to include targeting markets, hospitals, and relief centers, and later escalated to aerial and artillery bombardment of residential neighborhoods. When fighting entered the heart of the city, Al-Fashir began to experience an all-out war, with the suffering of residents increasing due to the collapse of infrastructure and the failure of all attempts to open humanitarian corridors—amid suspicious international neglect.
A Worsening Humanitarian Disaster
Today, Al-Fashir stands on the brink of famine: medicines are unavailable, fuel has run out, and schools and hospitals are closed. Residents walk dozens of kilometers in search of water, while bread has become a rare commodity, its prices far exceeding what most families can afford. UN reports indicate that more than 70% of the city’s population is experiencing food insecurity, while most humanitarian organizations are absent from the scene due to a lack of security guarantees.
Regional Confusion and International Inaction
Regionally, neighboring countries are anxious: Chad fears a new wave of refugees, while Libya closely watches for the risk of chaos spreading. Internationally, the response remains insufficient, even though Al-Fashir is now classified as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
A Cry for Help
Since last April, Al-Fashir has been under strict siege, leading to a complete collapse of health and food services. Residents suffer from such a lack of food that many have turned to eating animal fodder known locally as “Al-Ambaz” as a source of sustenance.
In this grim situation, Al Jazeera Net quoted Fatima Maki, a resident of the Al-Radif neighborhood, as saying: “We feed our children Al-Ambaz as if it were human food… There is no medicine, no food, not even water. We are dying of hunger or under bombardment, and no one is listening.” She added: “Our lives have turned into hell, and our days pass without hope. We appeal to the international community to come to our aid before it’s too late.”
An Uncertain Future
Analysts see the armed forces’ success in repelling the latest attack as an indication of a tactical shift in the course of the fighting in Al-Fashir. They assert that cooperation between the army, joint forces, popular resistance, and citizens could be a starting point for redrawing the balance of power and building a unified political front, provided that this success is effectively invested in the field.
However, local activists warn that military victory alone is not enough to lift the siege or end the suffering of civilians unless it is translated into a decisive military advance from the north towards Darfur.
Finally, weak coordination between the United Nations and the African Union, along with conflicting interests among international actors, has made Al-Fashir a testing ground that demonstrates the global system’s failure to handle complex crises.
