The United Nations (UN) has urged safe passage for civilians trapped in Al Fashir, Sudan, following claims by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that they have seized full control of the city.
Al Fashir, the last government-held stronghold in western Darfur, has been under siege for 18 months as RSF forces advanced. Tens of thousands have been killed and nearly 12 million displaced during Sudan’s two-year conflict, with both sides accused of war crimes.
Humanitarian agencies warn that around 250 000 civilians, half of them children, remain trapped in the city, many facing starvation and extreme hardship. The RSF has described its actions as a liberation of the city, but the international community has raised concerns over the treatment of civilians, citing previous accusations of ethnic cleansing.
The situation in Al Fashir highlights the urgent need for humanitarian corridors to ensure that civilians can access food, medical aid, and safe evacuation, as the RSF consolidates control over the region.
The BBC’s Barbara Plett-Usher reports that how the RSF handles the civilian population in the coming days will be closely scrutinised by the UN and other international observers.
–ChannelAfrica–
