The families trapped in El-Fasher are struggling for survival as the humanitarian situation deteriorates, with food scarcity leading to alarming loss of life.
Amidst Sudan's Unfolding Humanitarian Crisis, El-Fasher Faces Dire Food Shortages

Amidst Sudan's Unfolding Humanitarian Crisis, El-Fasher Faces Dire Food Shortages
The UN's World Food Programme warns of imminent starvation as El-Fasher remains besieged, suffering under the grip of civil conflict and lack of support.
The situation in El-Fasher, Sudan, is reaching a critical point as the World Food Programme (WFP) warns that residents are on the brink of starvation. The besieged city, which has been surrounded by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for nearly 16 months, has not received food supplies by road for over a year. Home to approximately 250,000 people, El-Fasher is now one of the worst-affected areas in a country grappling with a devastating civil war that erupted in April 2023.
The WFP stated that extreme food shortages have led to skyrocketing prices for the limited available supplies. Reports indicate that desperate families have resorted to eating animal fodder and food waste in a desperate attempt to survive. Eric Perdison, the WFP's regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, emphasized the dire conditions, noting that “Everyone in el-Fasher is facing a daily struggle to survive.” He warned that without immediate access to aid, lives would inevitably be lost.
The humanitarian crisis in El-Fasher escalates as local activists report increasing starvation deaths, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by the population. An eight-year-old girl named Sondos, who fled the city with her family, described the overwhelming presence of shells and starvation, stating, "In el-Fasher there was a lot of shelling and hunger."
Despite having food trucks ready to depart, the WFP requires guarantees of safe passage to deliver essential supplies. A convoy attempted to enter El-Fasher in early June but was attacked amid the ongoing conflict. The UN is advocating for a humanitarian truce in the city, but the prospects for a successful aid mission remain uncertain.
As violence continues to plague Sudan, claims of genocide in Darfur remain widespread, while over 150,000 people have lost their lives and approximately 12 million have been displaced throughout the country. The international community watches closely as the humanitarian disaster unfolds, desperately hoping for a cessation of hostilities and a lifeline for the besieged citizens of El-Fasher.