General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, Sudan’s military leader, visited a displacement camp on Saturday, meeting civilians who fled the city of El-Fasher following its capture by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Surrounded by military personnel, Burhan was welcomed by displaced residents seeking refuge from escalating violence in the Darfur region.
According to humanitarian organizations, tens of thousands have escaped to overcrowded camps amid reports of atrocities committed by RSF fighters since their takeover of El-Fasher last week. The United Nations human rights chief warned that many civilians remain trapped in the city, facing grave danger.
The RSF and Sudanese army have been locked in a brutal conflict since April 2023, rooted in a power struggle over control of the country. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 40,000 people have been killed, though the true number may be significantly higher. The war has displaced over 12 million people, with nearly half of Sudan’s population now suffering from acute food insecurity.
El-Fasher fell to RSF forces after an 18-month siege. Witnesses and aid groups report that RSF fighters stormed the Saudi Hospital, killing more than 450 people, and carried out door-to-door attacks involving killings and sexual violence. While the RSF denies responsibility for the hospital massacre, survivor testimonies, satellite imagery, and online footage paint a grim picture of the assault.
The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with international observers calling for urgent intervention to protect civilians and restore stability in Sudan.
