An extensive earthen wall is being built around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher and is intended to trap people inside, according to research from Yale University.
From satellite images, the university's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has identified more than 31km (19 miles) of berms - or raised banks - constructed since May in territory outside the city occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
El-Fasher, under siege for more than a year, is the last major foothold in Darfur for Sudan's army, which has been battling the RSF since April 2023.
The Sudan Doctors Network has reported that the RSF was intensifying its offensive in the region and deliberately targeting civilians.
Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan from the medics association highlighted a recent incident where a shelling in a civilian area killed nearly 24 people and injured over 55, including women. He described the attacks as intentional and heinous.
Humanitarian organizations have been unable to reach el-Fasher for months, leaving its remaining civilians facing bombardments, food scarcity, and a lack of medical access. The RSF has reportedly increased the construction of berms, deepening the siege conditions around the city and severely restricting movement in and out.
As civilians seek to escape, they face threats of violence from RSF forces. One resident, Halima Hashim, expressed the despair of wanting to leave amidst the danger and hopelessness of remaining behind.
The ongoing construction of these berms signals a tactical shift that could impact the balance of power in the conflict, with fears that if the RSF gains complete control, it could lead to a partitioning of the country.
Calls for international intervention have grown, with former officials urging the UN Security Council to act in defense of el-Fasher's vulnerable population.
