Skip to main content

El-Fasher under siege

1 min Mena Today

The situation in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, has taken a perilous turn as heavy weaponry fire threatens the safety of approximately 800,000 civilians currently taking refuge in the city.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami © X

Clementine Nkweta-Salami © X

The situation in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, has taken a perilous turn as heavy weaponry fire threatens the safety of approximately 800,000 civilians currently taking refuge in the city.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the Coordinator for Sudan at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reported the alarming development, emphasizing the severe risks to civilians caught in the crossfire.

According to Nkweta-Salami's statement, released on the social media platform X, intense combat involving heavy weapons has been ongoing in the densely populated areas of central El-Fasher and its surroundings.

The use of such armaments in crowded urban environments has resulted in numerous casualties, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The conflict in Darfur has been notorious for its brutality and the widespread displacement it has caused over the years. The recent escalation poses an even greater threat to civilians who have already endured significant hardships. 

Nkweta-Salami's report highlights the urgent need for a humanitarian response to prevent further loss of life and suffering among the displaced populations.

In her plea, Nkweta-Salami called on all parties involved in the conflict to spare the city of El-Fasher from further violence. She urged for the immediate cessation of hostilities and for the combatants to consider the grave humanitarian implications of their actions. The UN, along with various humanitarian agencies, is ready to assist and provide relief to those affected, contingent on the cessation of violence and the provision of safe access.

The international community, while focusing on resolving the broader conflicts within Sudan, must also turn its immediate attention to the plight of El-Fasher.

Ensuring the safety of civilians and providing timely humanitarian aid are of paramount importance as the city braces for potential further escalations. The call by the UN’s humanitarian coordinator underscores the critical need for concerted efforts to bring peace and stability back to this troubled region.

Related

Morocco

Egypt backs Morocco's Sahara plan

Morocco and Egypt have taken their bilateral relationship to a new level, holding the first session of a joint coordination and monitoring committee in Egypt's new administrative capital on Monday, with Western Sahara firmly at the centre of the agenda.

Sudan

Yassir al-Atta named Sudan's new military Chief of Staff

Sudan has appointed General Yassir al-Atta, a member of the country's Sovereign Council and assistant to the commander-in-chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chief of staff of the country's Armed Forces, a military spokesman told Reuters on Thursday.  

Egypt

Kremlin receives Egyptian FM

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Thursday in Moscow, with discussions expected to centre on the ongoing war involving Iran and the broader situation across the Middle East, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Mena banner 4

To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.

  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.