In the troubled region of Darfur, residents of the town of El-Fasher have once again found themselves at the mercy of paramilitary violence, sparking deep concern within the international community. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his deep concern over the massive assault by the Rapid Support Forces on the town of El-Fasher. In a statement, Guterres urged RSF leader Lt. General Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo to halt this devastating attack.
The precarious situation in El-Fasher reflects a major humanitarian crisis that is continuing to worsen. According to local reports, many homes in the south of the town have been burned to the ground, leaving behind ruins and palpable despair.
The Secretary-General warned of the risk of an escalation of the conflict that could lead to inter-communal clashes across Darfur. Beyond the ongoing human tragedy, Antonio Guterres stressed the urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities across the country. Since the start of the fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF in April last year, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, leaving behind their lives and belongings.
This bloody conflict has plunged nearly half of the Sudanese population into acute famine. At the same time, the country is facing several epidemics, including cholera, which are further undermining the scarce health resources available.
In this alarming context, the international community is once again faced with a major challenge: to protect vulnerable civilians and find lasting solutions to end this human tragedy that is dragging on.
It is imperative that all stakeholders fully commit to respecting the fundamental rights of the population and working towards a peaceful and inclusive resolution of the conflict. Peace and security in Darfur cannot be ensured without sincere commitment from all actors involved, both nationally and internationally.
As the humanitarian situation in Darfur reaches critical levels, it is time to act collectively to end the suffering of the Sudanese people and build a better future for generations to come.