Thu Apr 03 16:31:46 UTC 2025: ## Starvation Grips North Darfur as RSF Siege Intensifies, Civilians Plead for Help

**El-Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan** – A year-long siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged civilians in North Darfur’s capital, el-Fasher, and surrounding areas into a desperate state of starvation. While local armed factions, the Joint Forces, backed by the Sudanese army, have so far prevented an RSF invasion, the besieged population is facing a dire humanitarian crisis and pleading for intervention.

The UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reports famine conditions in Zamzam camp, the largest refugee camp in North Darfur, affecting nearly 500,000 people. Residents report receiving limited food aid from the army, but supplies are dwindling rapidly. Mohamed Khamis Doda, spokesperson for Zamzam camp, called for immediate action from Sudanese security agencies and humanitarian organizations to ensure the delivery of food, medicine, and other essential supplies.

The conflict highlights a stark ethnic divide. The predominantly “non-Arab” sedentary farming communities are under siege by RSF forces, largely recruited from nomadic “Arab” tribes. Since the outbreak of Sudan’s civil war in April 2023, the RSF has seized control of four out of five Darfur states, leaving North Darfur as the last holdout. The UN accuses both sides of atrocities, but particularly condemns the RSF for widespread rape, killings and disappearances of civilians.

Concerns are rising that the Sudanese army, after securing Khartoum, might neglect North Darfur, prioritizing its control over central and northern regions. Independent Sudan expert Jawhara Kanu expresses doubts about the army’s capacity and political will to sustain the fight in Darfur, fueled by growing anti-Darfur sentiment on social media.

The situation is further complicated by recent army actions. An air strike on a crowded market in Torra village during Ramadan, reportedly killing at least 350 civilians, has raised serious concerns about civilian casualties. While the army spokesperson has not responded to inquiries regarding this incident, a source monitoring the situation emphasizes that air strikes are currently the only deterrent against RSF advances.

However, civilians fear an RSF invasion more than army air strikes, anticipating widespread atrocities. The RSF’s recent capture of al-Malha, providing a vital supply line, and escalating abuses across North Darfur, intensify these fears. Meanwhile, the Joint Forces, facing a siege, are hampered in their ability to replenish supplies and recruit new fighters. Recent calls for dialogue by a Joint Forces leader have sparked speculation about a potential deal with the RSF, raising fears of ethnic cleansing among the civilian population. Residents express their determination to remain, facing the grim prospect of life or death in their homeland.

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