An extensive earthen wall is being built around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher, with reports indicating it is intended to confine civilians. Satellite images from Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) reveal that over 31 kilometers of berms have been constructed since May, primarily in areas occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
El-Fasher has been under siege for more than a year and is the last major stronghold in Darfur for Sudan's army, which has been at war with the RSF since April 2023.
According to the Sudan Doctors Network, the RSF’s offensive has intensified, specifically targeting civilians. Recent shelling incidents resulted in the deaths of 24 civilians and many injuries, highlighting the egregious nature of the attacks on populated areas.
The attacks reflect a deliberate and heinous strategy targeting civilians, stated Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan from the medics association.
Yale's analysis suggests that the RSF is creating a “literal kill box” around El-Fasher, complicating escape for civilians trying to flee or obtain supplies. Humanitarian organizations have been barred from accessing the city for months, with inhabitants facing continual bombardment, food shortages, and healthcare crises.
With around 300,000 residents trapped within the wall, individuals express despair over their circumstances, stating that leaving the city is fraught with danger due to RSF targeting. Halima Hashim, a schoolteacher and mother, notes, Staying is like a slow death, but leaving is dangerous.
The HRL report indicates that the construction of the wall supports RSF strategies against Sudanese forces in the area. The implications could lead to heightened tensions and possibly a further division of Sudan as control shifts.
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, Adeeb Abdel Rahman Youssef, a former governor and humanitarian aid worker, urgently called for international protection for El-Fasher's civilians.
Without intervention, the ongoing violence and humanitarian distress in El-Fasher remain critically unresolved, painting a grim picture of the situation's evolution.
