Clashes between Sudan’s rivals displace 505,000 in El Fasher
May 27, 2024 (EL-FASHER) – An estimated 505,000 people have been displaced due to recent clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher, North Darfur, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said.
Majority of those displaced, according to UNFPA’s situational report on Sudan, are from Tawila and Kutum, as well as the eastern and northern areas of El Fasher.
The statement highlighted that El-Fasher currently hosts 187,000 displaced persons in severely overcrowded shelters, with the city’s population estimated at around one million, including 40,000 pregnant women. Among these women, however, 6,000 are experiencing high-risk pregnancies requiring advanced care.
Other reports indicate that El-Fasher is home to 2.8 million people, including 800,000 displaced individuals. There are serious concerns about severe human rights violations should the paramilitary RSF manage to seize control of the city.
El-Fasher has witnessed fierce battles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies, accompanied by aerial and artillery bombardments. This has reportedly exacerbated food security issues for residents, who face searches and imposed fees as they attempt to flee.
Since April 15, 2024, the situation in El Fasher, which is currently hosting approximately 187,000 internally displaced persons has deteriorated significantly.
Most IDPs are now staying in severely overcrowded displacement sites, it noted.
More than 8.8 million people have been displaced due to the outbreak of the conflict between Sudanese military and the paramilitary RSF in mid-April 2023.
Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis and is hosting 13% of all internally displaced persons globally, indicating the largest displacement crisis in the world.
The extensive displacement crisis has exacerbated risks in maternal and child health, with an estimated 50,000 live births expected in the next three months and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women facing acute malnutrition in 2024.
The acute food insecurity exacerbating the crisis, UNFPA said, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services to address the increased vulnerability and health risks faced by women and girls.
In this context, protection remains central to the response, with a focus on addressing gender-based violence, ensuring the safety and dignity of women and girls and providing access to essential services and safe spaces.
Meanwhile, UNFPA warned that the deteriorating security situation and movement restrictions are limiting access to services, increasing the risks to the safety, health and the well-being of women and girls. It also cited numerous cases of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, abduction, and rape.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that the conflict in El-Fasher has resulted in over 1000 casualties, both dead and injured, amid warnings that medical supplies could run out within days due to the siege imposed by the RSF on the city.
(ST)