Survivors of the brutal siege in el-Fasher, Sudan, have shared their harrowing experiences with the BBC, detailing the extreme violence inflicted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Ezzeldin Hassan Musa, who managed to escape the city, described witnessing “people murdered in front of us” and enduring beatings himself.
Many who fled el-Fasher are women and children, often arriving in a state of severe exhaustion, malnutrition, and injury. Ahmed Ismail Ibrahim recounted how RSF fighters killed four men from his group before shooting him and leaving him for dead. Yusra Ibrahim Mohamed spoke of fleeing after her husband, a soldier, was killed during RSF attacks.
Medical charities like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are struggling to cope with the influx of critically injured and traumatized individuals. Alfadil Dukhan, an MSF worker, stated that hundreds of new arrivals require urgent medical attention, with many already having undergone amputations.
The fall of el-Fasher, which had been under siege for 18 months, has exacerbated a severe hunger crisis and resulted in mass displacement. Aid organizations express deep concern for those still trapped in the city and those attempting the perilous journey to safety, as RSF fighters reportedly continue to attack fleeing civilians. The survivors’ pleas highlight the desperate need for secured humanitarian routes and immediate aid for the suffering population.