Chaos and Brutality in Sudan's North Darfur as Civilians Fall Victim to Rapid Support Forces
The fall of El Fasher, the largest city in North Darfur, has left behind a trail of chaos, brutality, and human suffering. In the three years leading up to the attack on Sunday, Newawal Khalil had been volunteering as a nurse at the city's South hospital, tending to patients including an elderly woman who desperately needed a blood transfusion.
However, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed into the hospital, killing six wounded soldiers and civilians in their beds – some of whom were women, Khalil recounts. She was shot in the right foot and thigh while trying to flee with her patients but managed to escape after being taken hostage by RSF fighters who took control of the nearby military headquarters.
Khalil's harrowing experience is just one of many accounts from civilians who fled El Fasher after the city fell, with over 1,000 people making the perilous journey on foot and in trucks to reach the town of Tawila. Many were left without food or water for days, while others were detained by RSF fighters, some of whom were subjected to gruesome punishments.
"It's a trap," says Adam Yagoub, a driver from Sennar who narrowly escaped being killed by three militiamen on camels near Garney. "People walk all day without water, and when they reach it, the militias are waiting. They killed 22 men there and took the bodies away to hide them."
Survivors have spoken of being separated by gender and perceived affiliation – men suspected of being fighters were detained while some civilians were released or freed after paying ransoms.
The Sudan Liberation Army faction led by Abdul Wahid Mohamed al-Nur (SLA-AW) has been deployed around Tawila to protect those fleeing El Fasher and prevent clashes if the RSF pursues armed groups who have retreated with their weapons. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting a large influx of people to its clinic in Tawila hospital.
"It's an extremely dangerous journey," MSF project coordinator Sylvain Penicaud warns. "Many were in a state of great weakness suffering from malnutrition and dehydration."
As the situation continues to unfold, many remain trapped by the RSF and allied militias in Garney, with some former soldiers being detained for days over ransom demands that have left them gravely ill. The exact number of casualties remains unclear, but it is evident that the people of North Darfur will be forced to endure a protracted period of suffering.
The RSF's head, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo – known as Hemedti – has vowed to hold accountable those who "violated the right of any person" during the fighting. However, questions remain about the true extent of the atrocities committed by the RSF and its allies in El Fasher, with many wondering when justice will be served.
As the dust settles on this chaotic scene, one thing is clear: North Darfur's people will have to face a long and arduous road to recovery, and international attention must turn to ensuring accountability for those responsible for their suffering.
The fall of El Fasher, the largest city in North Darfur, has left behind a trail of chaos, brutality, and human suffering. In the three years leading up to the attack on Sunday, Newawal Khalil had been volunteering as a nurse at the city's South hospital, tending to patients including an elderly woman who desperately needed a blood transfusion.
However, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed into the hospital, killing six wounded soldiers and civilians in their beds – some of whom were women, Khalil recounts. She was shot in the right foot and thigh while trying to flee with her patients but managed to escape after being taken hostage by RSF fighters who took control of the nearby military headquarters.
Khalil's harrowing experience is just one of many accounts from civilians who fled El Fasher after the city fell, with over 1,000 people making the perilous journey on foot and in trucks to reach the town of Tawila. Many were left without food or water for days, while others were detained by RSF fighters, some of whom were subjected to gruesome punishments.
"It's a trap," says Adam Yagoub, a driver from Sennar who narrowly escaped being killed by three militiamen on camels near Garney. "People walk all day without water, and when they reach it, the militias are waiting. They killed 22 men there and took the bodies away to hide them."
Survivors have spoken of being separated by gender and perceived affiliation – men suspected of being fighters were detained while some civilians were released or freed after paying ransoms.
The Sudan Liberation Army faction led by Abdul Wahid Mohamed al-Nur (SLA-AW) has been deployed around Tawila to protect those fleeing El Fasher and prevent clashes if the RSF pursues armed groups who have retreated with their weapons. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting a large influx of people to its clinic in Tawila hospital.
"It's an extremely dangerous journey," MSF project coordinator Sylvain Penicaud warns. "Many were in a state of great weakness suffering from malnutrition and dehydration."
As the situation continues to unfold, many remain trapped by the RSF and allied militias in Garney, with some former soldiers being detained for days over ransom demands that have left them gravely ill. The exact number of casualties remains unclear, but it is evident that the people of North Darfur will be forced to endure a protracted period of suffering.
The RSF's head, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo – known as Hemedti – has vowed to hold accountable those who "violated the right of any person" during the fighting. However, questions remain about the true extent of the atrocities committed by the RSF and its allies in El Fasher, with many wondering when justice will be served.
As the dust settles on this chaotic scene, one thing is clear: North Darfur's people will have to face a long and arduous road to recovery, and international attention must turn to ensuring accountability for those responsible for their suffering.
This is madness! People just getting shot in hospitals while trying to help others? How can that even happen? 
The fact that 1k people had to walk for days without food or water is just insane... and what's with the separate treatment of men and women based on affiliation? That's just barbaric. 
i mean i know war is bad enough but the fact that civilians are getting caught in the middle is just heartbreaking ppl should be able to live without fear of being killed or taken hostage 
and its not just the people of darfur who need help but also their medical staff like this nurse newawal khalil shes been through so much already 
it's just not right they r just tryna escape the chaos but militias keep hitting them with punishments like whoa 
1000s of people left stranded without food or water, it's like a never-ending nightmare out there... 
. I mean, what's the point of all this? Are we really going to let innocent people suffer like this? 
And the fact that survivors are being detained and subjected to punishments is just despicable 
. 
. It's a total trap, like Adam Yagoub said 
. The RSF and their allies are hiding behind some pretty vague promises of accountability 
. But until we see concrete action taken against those responsible for these atrocities, nothing will change 
.
. We need to be demanding answers and action from our leaders, not just throwing up our hands and saying "oh, they'll sort it out eventually" 
.
also why are people being separated by gender and perceived affiliation its so unjust and racist 
and what about the 22 men who got killed on camels its like they just vanished into thin air 
That they're being held for ransom & subjected to 'punishments' is just UNACCEPTABLE 
Their city lies in ruins 
And their future looks bleak 
. And can we talk about how messed up it is that some civilians were killed by soldiers who were supposed to be protecting them? I mean, what even is that? 
what's going on in Sudan is just horrific I can barely even process the news 
.