Humanitarian Crisis in Al-Fashir Following RSF Takeover

In December 2025, a United Nations humanitarian team conducted its first visit to Al-Fashir, Sudan, since the city was overtaken by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in October 2025. This takeover followed an 18-month siege that resulted in widespread famine and mass displacement. An estimated 100,000 residents fled the city during this period, leaving behind a largely deserted urban landscape. Survivors reported experiencing ethnically-motivated mass killings and widespread detentions, with many individuals still unaccounted for.

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Denise Brown, the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, described Al-Fashir as a "crime scene," highlighting the dire conditions faced by those who remained. During the visit, aid workers found few people, many of whom were sheltering in abandoned buildings or makeshift camps constructed from plastic sheeting. The small market that was operational offered limited supplies, primarily locally grown vegetables. Brown noted that the visible signs of trauma among the remaining population were profound, with many exhibiting fatigue, stress, and anxiety.

The Straits Times

The RSF's control over Al-Fashir has been marked by reports of severe human rights violations, including massacres, torture, and sexual violence. Satellite imagery has indicated the presence of mass graves, further underscoring the scale of the atrocities committed. Brown emphasized the need for investigations by human rights experts while the U.N. focuses on delivering aid to survivors. She expressed concern for those injured or detained, stating, "We believe there are detainees."

The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced approximately 11 million people. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has maintained a hardline stance against the RSF, insisting that the war will only conclude with their surrender. This ongoing conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to widespread starvation and the transformation of many areas into "ghost towns."

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The U.N. has called for immediate humanitarian access and a ceasefire to address the catastrophic conditions in Sudan. Brown's team faced significant challenges in negotiating safe passage to Al-Fashir, reflecting the precarious security situation. She noted, "We weren't able to see any of the detainees, and we believe there are detainees," highlighting the ongoing concerns regarding human rights and safety in the region.

The Straits Times

While the U.N. has reported on the dire humanitarian conditions and the atrocities committed in Al-Fashir, there remains a lack of comprehensive data on the exact number of individuals still in the city and the full extent of the humanitarian needs. The RSF has attempted to portray the situation as returning to normal, which contrasts sharply with the observations made by aid workers.

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• "El-Fashir is a ghost of its former self." — Denise Brown, U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan

• "We have photos of people, and you can see clearly on their faces the accumulation of fatigue, of stress, of anxiety, of loss." — Denise Brown

The Straits Times

• "There is a declared famine in El-Fashir." — Denise Brown

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• "We believe there are detainees." — Denise Brown

The situation in Al-Fashir remains critical, with ongoing humanitarian needs and a complex security landscape that complicates aid efforts.

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