UNICEF says thousands flee El-Fasher on foot, lacking food, water
(MENAFN) Thousands of Sudanese families have fled the city of El-Fasher in North Darfur, walking more than 60 kilometers without access to food or water to escape escalating violence, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“In Tawila, North Darfur, thousands of families are fleeing violence in El-Fasher, arriving exhausted, hungry & malnourished,” UNICEF said in a statement shared on the social media platform X.
UNICEF nutrition specialist Abubakar Ahmed reported that over 6,000 people fled from El-Fasher to Tawila last week alone, most of them women and children, and that the number continues to grow daily. He explained that the journey between the two cities takes four to five days on foot, leaving the displaced in dire condition upon arrival.
The refugees “came in a very bad, poor condition due to the long roads” separating El-Fasher from Tawila, Ahmed said. “The displaced face major challenges along the way, with some being beaten, while others spend days without food or water,” he added. “When they arrive – really, they looked thirsty, and most of them are malnourished, even children and adults.”
Ahmed also said many children arrived unaccompanied, uncertain about the whereabouts of their families.
According to Sudan’s Ministry of Social Welfare Undersecretary Salma Ishaq, fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) raped 25 women and killed 300 people in El-Fasher.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization’s regional director urged protection of hospitals in El-Fasher and unrestricted humanitarian access, noting that patients are dying due to a lack of medical supplies.
The exodus began after the RSF seized control of El-Fasher on Sunday following intense clashes with the Sudanese army. There has been no immediate response from the RSF regarding UNICEF’s report.
Earlier Saturday, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) voiced alarm for civilians trapped inside the city, warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis. The organization said its teams in Tawila were preparing to receive a large influx of displaced and wounded individuals following the RSF’s capture of El-Fasher.
On Wednesday, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, acknowledged that “violations” had occurred by his forces in El-Fasher, saying that internal investigations had been launched.
Since April 15, 2023, Sudan’s army and the RSF have been engaged in a devastating war that has defied numerous regional and international mediation efforts. The conflict has left around 20,000 people dead and displaced more than 15 million others, according to UN and local estimates.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
