The United Nations has issued an urgent call for the protection and safe passage of civilians in Sudan’s el-Fasher after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group claimed to have seized control of the city, the last major army stronghold in Darfur. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned on Monday of a worsening catastrophe amid reports of civilian killings and mass displacement in the capital of North Darfur state. “With fighters pushing further into the city and escape routes cut off, hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped and terrified – shelled, starving, and without access to healthcare, food, or safety,” Fletcher said, describing el-Fasher as being “at breaking point.” He called for unimpeded humanitarian access and a ceasefire “in El Fasher, in Darfur, and throughout Sudan.” Later in the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a “terrible escalation,” describing Sudan’s humanitarian situation as “unbearable.” Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, Guterres urged foreign actors supplying arms to the warring factions to stop undermining peace efforts. The RSF has besieged el-Fasher for nearly 18 months in its campaign to take full control of Darfur. The fighting has trapped around 250,000 civilians and displaced hundreds of thousands more, with residents facing extreme shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Observers say the fall of el-Fasher could mark a turning point in Sudan’s civil war, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced 12 million people, and left 30 million in need of aid — the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said RSF control of el-Fasher would consolidate the group’s dominance across Darfur and could pave the way for a potential “separation” of the region from Sudan. Despite RSF assurances of civilian protection, the group faces allegations of ethnic killings in el-Fasher. The Sudan Doctors Network reported “dozens” of civilian deaths, saying its field teams had documented atrocities despite limited access due to what it called a “complete security collapse.” Minni Minnawi, governor of Darfur and ally of Sudan’s army, called for international intervention and an “independent investigation into the violations and massacres” allegedly carried out by RSF forces. However, Sudan’s official news agency SUNA quoted Information Minister Khaled al-Aisir as rejecting RSF claims, dismissing them as “psychological warfare” and insisting the “rebellion has collapsed and been defeated in several locations.”
