UN Report Highlights Darfur Siege Humanitarian Crisis

The ongoing siege of El-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, has resulted in the deaths of over 782 civilians and left more than 1,143 injured since May, according to a UN report. This conflict forms part of a larger struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with both sides facing accusations of potential war crimes against civilians. Intense shelling and airstrikes have devastated key civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and IDP camps, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for an end to the siege, warning of catastrophic consequences if fighting continues. Observers fear that an RSF victory could lead to further ethnic violence, similar to past events in West Darfur. Efforts to deliver humanitarian aid have been severely hampered, affecting millions displaced by the conflict.