The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has reached a harrowing new chapter following the fall of el-Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group locked in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese army since April 2023. On Saturday, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, Sudan’s military chief, visited a displacement camp sheltering thousands who fled the besieged city, offering a rare glimpse into the suffering endured by civilians.
The visit came days after RSF forces seized el-Fasher in western Darfur, ending an 18-month siege with a wave of violence that has shocked the international community. According to the World Health Organization, over 450 people were killed in a rampage through the city’s Saudi Hospital. Eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery suggest widespread atrocities, including house-to-house killings and sexual assaults—claims the RSF denies despite mounting evidence.
The United Nations warns that many civilians remain trapped in the region, while aid groups report tens of thousands have fled to overcrowded camps. The scale of displacement is staggering: more than 12 million people have been uprooted across the country, and nearly half of Sudan’s population now faces acute food insecurity.
Since the outbreak of war, at least 40,000 lives have been lost, though the true toll may be far higher. The conflict stems from long-standing tensions over control of Sudan, Africa’s third-largest nation, and has plunged the country into chaos.
General Burhan’s visit to the camp—amid tight military security—was symbolic, but it underscored the dire need for international attention and humanitarian aid. As Sudan teeters on the brink, the world watches a tragedy unfold that demands urgent action.