El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and long a center of displacement and conflict, fell to RSF forces over the weekend after government troops withdrew, triggering a mass exodus. Civilians—many already weakened by siege conditions—have been walking for days under harsh conditions to reach Tawila and other nearby areas, swelling camps that were already overstretched and undersupplied UN News Arise News.
What Happened and Immediate Humanitarian Impact
Witnesses and UN agencies report that in the days around the takeover there were killings during house-to-house operations, with some accounts alleging summary executions and targeted ethnically motivated violence. UNHCR officials said thousands moved west toward Tawila, which already hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and that newly arrived families recount horrific abuses including rape and extreme food insecurity UN News Arise News. IOM described an initial outflow of more than 26,000 people within just two days and warned that needs are rising faster than aid can reach them UN News.
Conditions for Displaced People and Aid Response
Humanitarian teams on the ground are scrambling to deliver tents, emergency shelter kits, cash assistance and basic protection services, but agencies warn that destruction of markets, hospitals and schools in Darfur has left civilians with few resources and limited safe routes for escape. Nutrition clinics report children arriving severely malnourished, and medical facilities face shortages of supplies and staff, complicating treatment for the influx of sick and injured UN News Arise News.
Wider Political and Security Implications
The RSF’s consolidation of El-Fasher cements its control across much of western Darfur and raises the prospect of a de facto territorial split between RSF-held western regions and army-held central and eastern areas. Observers warn the capture could embolden further abuses and make negotiated humanitarian access more difficult, while international actors debate pressure and diplomatic options to curb the violence and protect civilians Council on Foreign Relations.
