A siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused a famine in North Darfur’s capital el-Fasher, exacerbating the 27-month civil war that has left Sudan’s vulnerable population facing starvation. Despite pleas for help from aid agencies, they have been denied access to el-Fasher.
As a result, around 740,000 people are deteriorating from hunger, according to the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared a famine in Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps in December 2024, warning it could spread to el-Fasher by May.
The RSF imposed a siege on el-Fasher in April 2024 after local armed groups declared allegiance to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The city has been locked down, with food prices surging four times more than the rest of the country. Communal kitchens have shut down due to food shortages brought by the siege.
People originally from el-Fasher and generations of displaced people who sought refuge in North Darfur over the last 20 years are trapped in the capital. Children, especially those under six, are the most vulnerable to starvation.
The crisis is mainly caused by the RSF’s siege as it tries to capture the city, which would give it control over the entire strategic region of Darfur. If successful, Sudan could potentially be partitioned with RSF rule over the western and southern regions while the SAF controls the centre, north and east.
Many people have turned to animal fodder to survive, eating ambaz pellets made from pressed oilseeds like peanuts and sesame seeds. However, aid agencies face significant challenges in reaching civilians due to the RSF’s denial of access.
The situation is dire, with 239 children dying of hunger in el-Fasher in the first six months of this year, according to the Sudanese Doctors’ Network. The World Food Programme warned that thousands of people face starvation and aid trucks have been unable to send aid into the city due to the siege.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/6/why-are-people-in-sudans-el-fasher-starving