El Fasher, August 17(Darfur 24)
This week, the city of El Fasher witnessed a massive wave of civilian displacement due to clashes and heavy artillery shelling between the army and the joint force on one side, and the Rapid Support Forces on the other.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are imposing a tight siege on El Fasher from all directions in an attempt to seize the headquarters of the Sixth Infantry Division, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in Darfur, after seizing control of the divisions of Nyala, Zalingei, El Geneina, and El Daein in 2023.
Eyewitnesses said that a number of residents left their homes for other neighborhoods within the city, including Abu Shouk El Hilla and Al-Darja Al-Ula in the west, while others headed to the cities of Mellit, Kutum, Jebel Marra, and Tawila.
Amna Abdel Rahman, from the Al-Shorfa neighborhood, northeast of the city, told Darfur 24 that dozens of families were displaced from the neighboring neighborhoods of Deim Salk and Al-Nasr, heading toward the neighborhoods of Al-Raja Al-Ula and Abu Shouk Al-Hilla.
She indicated that intense artillery shelling forced them to flee, in addition to the worsening living conditions and severe shortages of food and medicine.
Another eyewitness, Musa Mohammed Ibrahim, revealed to Darfur 24 that dozens of families had left their homes in the Al-Wadi neighborhood, south of the city, following the RSF’ incursion into the neighborhood last Tuesday.
In a brief statement published by El Fasher Resistance Committees on their Facebook page, and reviewed by Darfur 24, they confirmed that RSF had infiltrated the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) north of the city since yesterday.
The RSF also carried out summary execution against a number of civilians without any resistance or clear reason. They also arrested others and took them to unknown locations, whose fate remains unknown
According to a video posted on social media by RSF fighters, they were seen inside a water station in Naivasha camp. Darfur 24 verified the authenticity of the video, which showed elite RSF forces in the northeastern part of the camp, where the water station is located.
Last Monday, El Fasher witnessed fierce fighting between the two sides, lasting more than six hours, on four fronts of the city. Various types of heavy weapons, drones, and artillery were used.