El Fasher battles claim 123 lives, displacing thousands to rebel-held area
May 26, 2024 (EL FASHER) – The death toll from ongoing clashes in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has climbed to 123, according to humanitarian aid workers. Thousands of residents have fled the city, seeking refuge in areas controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) under Abdel Wahid Nur.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirmed the death of one of its team members in an artillery strike on his home in central El Fasher. MSF teams at the Southern Hospital have documented 123 deaths and over 930 injuries in the past two weeks alone.
“These figures are a stark testament to the intensity of the fighting,” MSF said in a statement, urging the warring factions to cease hostilities and prioritize the safety of civilians.
In a separate development, displaced individuals from El Fasher have arrived in Tawila, a town about 60 kilometres west of El Fasher under SLM control. Adam Rejal, spokesperson for the General Coordination of Darfur Displaced and Refugee Camps, reported that these new arrivals fled the clashes between the Sudanese army, allied armed movements, and the Rapid Support Forces.
The violence has also triggered a mass exodus from the Abu Shouk camp in El Fasher, with an estimated 60% of residents fleeing due to the fighting. The camp is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, including water shortages, skyrocketing prices, and a lack of essential supplies.
Military developments
Despite a series of attacks over the past 16 days, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have failed to make military gains in El Fasher. The Sudanese army and allied forces have successfully defended the city’s northeastern, eastern, and southeastern sectors.
On May 22, a temporary ammunition shortage forced joint forces to withdraw from the Al-Wahda neighbourhood, allowing the RSF to briefly infiltrate and damage the city’s electricity authority before being driven out.
In response to the army’s advance, the RSF resorted to indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, causing significant civilian casualties. The Sudanese air force has played a crucial role in repelling the RSF assault, conducting airstrikes on their positions and airdropping supplies to the army.
Local sources reported that the air force bombed the RSF’s Zarqa military base on Sunday.
Fighting has recently intensified in El Fasher, with artillery exchanges between the army, allied movements, and the RSF resulting in further civilian casualties. The RSF has shelled central and southern areas of the city with heavy artillery.
On Sunday morning, the Sudanese army announced that it had successfully expelled the RSF from the eastern outskirts of El Fasher, seizing control of several positions used to shell displacement camps, civilian homes, and health facilities. The army claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties on the RSF, capturing numerous weapons, vehicles, and combat equipment.