Al-Burhan’s siege brings hunger and slow death

3rd September 2025

2 minutes read

Al-Burhan’s siege brings hunger and slow death

The city of El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur in western Sudan, is experiencing a catastrophic humanitarian and health crisis due to the blockade imposed by the Port Sudan forces and allied militias, who refuse to open safe corridors to allow civilians to leave the city.

Local sources said that conditions are deteriorating rapidly, making it impossible for residents to survive without urgent aid.

More than half a million people in El-Fasher, essentially the entire population, face acute food insecurity, while deadly epidemics are spreading, particularly cholera, which has already claimed lives in the absence of any medical care.

Reports indicate that hunger, thirst, and disease are tightening their grip, leaving many families unable to secure meals. Citizens warn that the lack of food supplies and the collapse of healthcare could lead to a rising death toll.

A local volunteer activist stated that many families are trying to flee, but army forces and militias are preventing their departure, subjecting them to beatings, fines, and even physical assaults.

The city is also facing a worsening crisis as food prices skyrocket. The little food available barely covers 10 percent of the population’s needs.

According to sources, the military’s refusal to let civilians leave El-Fasher amounts to a deliberate starvation policy aimed at using them as human shields. At the same time, humanitarian aid deliveries have been blocked, as clashes intensify between the army and the Foundation Forces.

The Coordination of Resistance Committees in El-Fasher reported that the prices of basic staples such as millet, sorghum, and cooking oil have doubled at unprecedented rates in recent days. Moreover, most charitable kitchens, which many residents relied on for even one meal a day, have shut down due to inflation.

The health situation is dire, with all hospitals and health centers shutting down because of severe shortages of medicines, equipment, electricity, and drinking water.

Despite international calls for safe humanitarian corridors to prevent mass famine, no tangible progress has been achieved.

Severe malnutrition cases are rapidly increasing, particularly among children and the elderly. Residents warn of an imminent famine with devastating consequences.

The General Coordination of Darfur Displaced Persons and Refugees has also accused Port Sudan forces and allied factions of turning El-Fasher and nearby displacement camps into military bases and frontline positions against the Foundation Forces. Previous reports documented abuses, arrests, and mistreatment of civilians trying to escape the city.

The local population is urgently calling for immediate action to save lives, as countless people are already facing starvation and their survival is threatened under catastrophic conditions.