As a paramilitary group announced the capture of el-Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, Church leaders amplified calls for the protection of “forgotten” civilians trapped in the western Sudanese city. Source: OSV News.
On Sunday, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and its allies announced the capture of the main army base, and technically the city, after an 18-month deadly siege. The paramilitary forces had intensified bombings, heavy artillery and drone attacks, forcing the army to retreat from the base.
About 260,000 civilians – including 130,000 children – remain trapped in the area’s main camp for internally displaced people, enduring desperate conditions without aid, according to the United Nations and Church agencies.
“It is a forgotten war because the people are really forgotten,” Italian Bishop Christian Carlassare of Bentiu, in neighbouring South Sudan, said.
“Unfortunately, it’s a forgotten war for the international community, but it’s not forgotten for the weapon merchants, who are making a lot of profits out of this war.”
In an appeal yesterday, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), warned of a dramatic escalation of violence in and around el-Fasher, “condemning in the strongest terms reported attacks by the Rapid Support Forces against civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers”.
Credible reports “point to widespread violations, including summary executions, house-to-house raids, sexual violence, and attacks along escape routes preventing civilians from reaching safety,” OCHA said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in an X post yesterday that “WHO is appalled and deeply shocked by reports of the tragic killing of more than 460 patients and companions at Saudi Maternity Hospital” in el-Fasher, following “recent attacks and the abduction of health workers”.
UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, said children in el-Fasher were starving because the agency’s lifesaving nutrition services were being blocked.
According to Fr Abdallah Hussein, vicar general of the El Obeid Diocese, which includes the Darfur region, the blockade had made it extremely difficult to reach el-Fasher or get information from the city.
“These days, there is no communication. There is no network. I do not have information about el-Fasher,” he said when asked to give an update on the situation.
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With thousands in Sudan trapped in besieged city, Catholic leaders amplify calls to end war (By Fredrick Nzwili, OSV News)
