Testimonies gathered by Plan International, the lead organisation in the Dutch Relief Alliance’s joint response for Sudan, indicate that many civilians, fearing attacks during escape, are choosing to remain in the city despite the risks.

Given the dire security situation and the immense danger facing those still in and around El Fasher, the Dutch Relief Alliance is gravely concerned about the fate of the population. Civilians are virtually unprotected, and the already critical humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly.

Call for protection of civilians

The UN Secretary-General has condemned the violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights in Sudan in the strongest possible terms, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, gender-based violence, and ethnically motivated violence. The UN Human Rights Office in Geneva reports that armed groups are also committing human rights violations in other parts of Sudan, including the city of Bara in North Kordofan—one of several areas experiencing intense fighting between warring factions.

Mohammed Kamal, director for Plan International in Sudan, says: “The biggest concern of the humanitarian community now is the safety of the people still trapped in the city. It is the obligation and responsibility of all armed actors in the conflict under International Humanitarian Law to guarantee the protection of civilians and humanitarian actors providing lifesaving support to the most affected. We urgently call for safe, rapid, and unhindered access so humanitarian workers can save lives.”

Harrowing journey to safety

In Tawila and Dar El Salam, approximately 60 kilometers from El Fasher, refugees have sought shelter at reception centres after harrowing journeys marked by danger and hardship. Various organisations within the joint response are providing humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people in the refugee camps surrounding El Fasher, including usage of the crisis modifier to support rapid response activities.

The fall of El Fasher is a tragedy long in the making and the international community has waited too long to act. In light of the acute and escalating crisis in Darfur and Kordofan, it is of utmost importance that:

1.    Civilians wishing to flee El Fasher and Bara are granted safe and unrestricted passage;

2.    Warring parties guarantee humanitarian access so that people in North-Darfur and South Kordofan can receive life-saving support;

3.    Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and water facilities, cease immediately;

4.    Donors such as the Netherlands and the European Union allocate additional emergency funding to scale up humanitarian efforts;

5.    States with influence over the warring parties — such as the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United States — use their leverage to stop and prevent atrocities in Sudan;

6.    The European Union maintains diplomatic pressure on these states to push for an immediate ceasefire;

7.    All parties ensure humanitarian workers can operate safely and that civilians are protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.

For more information on the Dutch Relief Alliance’s Joint Response in Sudan, see here: https://dutchrelief.org/sudan-protracted-joint-response-2/