At least 91 people died in September in the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The group warned of a “full-blown humanitarian disaster” as fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) pushes the region deeper into crisis.
Children and five pregnant people were among the victims of severe malnutrition, the group said late Thursday.
El-Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in Darfur, has faced months of intensified fighting. The U.N. Human Rights Office reported last week that hundreds of civilians have been killed in RSF attacks since April.
The Sudan Doctors Network accused the RSF of committing war crimes by using famine as a weapon of war. It said civilians were being deprived of their right to life, while the international community has failed to intervene.
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“The continuation of this situation means that el-Fasher is entering a phase of silent genocide against tens of thousands of women and children,” the group said.
Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 and has since killed at least 40,000 people, displacing around 12 million others. The World Food Programme says more than 24 million Sudanese now face acute food insecurity.
UNICEF reports that since January, more than 10,000 children in el-Fasher have been treated for severe acute malnutrition, double of last year’s figure. In a single week, at least 63 people, mostly women and children, died of hunger.
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The U.N. children’s agency added that the RSF siege has severed supply lines, forcing health facilities and nutrition teams to suspend operations and cutting treatment for an estimated 6,000 children.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
