SalaaMedia Report
Between United Nations Resolution that aims at lifting the siege from Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State, and the local, regional, and other international pressure initiatives to end war in Sudan; the situation in Al Fashir is still deteriorating due to the fighting escalation between SAF and its allied forces, against the RSF. In addition to that, the aerial strikes and bombardments on North Darfur State have not stopped despite the imposed Flight Embargo on Darfur since 2003 and sanctions by the European Union Council on SAF Airforce Commander, Gen. Altahir Mohammed Al-Awad Al-Amen. It was hoped that these international, regional, and local efforts would put pressures on the warring parties to stop the fight and save the lives of citizens, but in vain, while civilians remain unprotected.
This report shed lights on the statistics of civilians killed during the fighting in Al Fashir and those forced to flee, as well as those threatened by famine and lack of access to health care due to destruction of the health sector
Casualties
The ongoing war has left hundreds of dead civilians by direct gun shots of the warring parties. Medical San Frontiers (MSF) reported that it had recorded 300 dead civilians and treated about 2,170 wounded person in its hospitals in Al fashir. According to African Center for Justice and Peace Studies, mentioned in a report that RSF attacks on Al Fashir caused thousands of casualties and displaced about 90,000 persons.
In that regards, the only governmental statement was made by Mr. Ibrahim Khatir, Director General of the Ministry of Health in North Darfur State, saying that hospitals records show 346 dead and 2,200 wounded among civilians in May 2024. He further revealed the burial of unrecorded dead persons. Khatir told Sudan Tribune on July 22, 2024 that, since the beginning of war in Al Fashir, the number of deceased persons reached 750 people and 4,700 wounded. However, he contradicted Sudan Tribune’s statement the next day by stating to the Chinese Xinhua News agency that the number of victims of battles in Al Fashir had reached 600 dead and 4,500 wounded, indicating that the number of deceased is more than the declared numbers, attributing that to his Ministry’s inability to count. SalaaMedia team noted that the statements of the Director General of the Ministry of Health in Al Fashir were contradictory, although it was the only government account.
Siege Consequences
The siege on Al Fashir caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation resulting in famine and widespread of acute malnutrition among children, elderly, pregnant, and lactating mothers; in addition to lack of primary health care due to destruction of health facilities in the town and displacement of civilians. Before declaring famine in Zamzam camp, which hosts about 500,000 IDPs, MSF said that, mortality rate due to malnutrition in the camp reached two cases among every 10,000 people per day, proving deteriorating of situation after intensification of the battles and the siege on the town.
According to local media, the battles and the siege on Alfashir have led to a lack of medicines; triple increment on cost of commodities; closure of markets; and a lack of cash, as well as destruction of large numbers of citizens’ house.
Exodus
According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 1.5 million people have been displaced from 18 areas/ towns within North Darfur State since the beginning of war.
Avoiding Crisis
professor Alim Abbas’s initiatives and the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdu Al-Wahid Mohammed Nour fall among local, regional, and international efforts, striving to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Alfashir. The two initiatives called for the exit of all warring parties from the town. In addition to a joint humanitarian initiative between the Sudan Liberation Movement, figures of Sudanese community leaders, and a number of elites from Al Fashir; beside the United Nations call for humanitarian negotiations hosted in Geneva, and the efforts of IGAD, African Union and the American Envoy to Sudan.
Based on the analysis of this report, the continuation of fighting in Al Fashir may worsen the disaster, considering the increase in mortalities and injuries rates; displacement and destruction of civil facilities. Given the nature the fighting forces composition, the continuation of conflict in Al Fashir at this momentum would lead to ethnic clashes among the different social components, because some parties to the conflict have deliberately leveled-up the intensity of ethnic polarization. All these indicators require urgent intervention to end the siege on the town, and to stop artillery and aerial bombardment, which requires great pressure from the international community on all parties, along with its commitment to implement its pledges and decisions issued regarding Darfur region.