RSF captures El-Fasher after 500-day siege, displacing over 36,000 Sudanese

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, Sudan, after an 18-month siege marked by violence and starvation, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to flee to nearby towns like Tawila. Humanitarian agencies report widespread destruction of essential infrastructure, including food kitchens, hospitals, and markets, contributing to severe shortages of food, medicine, and safe passage for civilians trapped inside the city. RSF fighters have been accused of ethnically motivated killings, extortion, and human rights abuses such as torture, sexual violence, and abductions, with some survivors describing harrowing scenes of mass executions and ransom demands. Despite urgent calls from the United Nations and international aid organizations for safe humanitarian access and ceasefires, aid delivery remains hampered by security risks and ongoing hostilities. The humanitarian crisis is deepening as many displaced people remain in overcrowded camps without adequate food, water, or shelter, while aid budgets shrink globally, further complicating relief efforts in Sudan. Key mediators including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have condemned RSF actions and urged immediate humanitarian access to alleviate the suffering of millions.