Conditions in El-Fasher: Stopped Displacement a Gradual Return, and Shortage of Medicine

El-Fasher – Muhammad Mustafa Al-Maamoun

A cautious calm has returned to the city of El Fasher, the capital of the North Darfur State, and military operations have been limited to artillery shelling carried out by the Rapid Support rebels, and some infiltrations east and west of the city, where the infiltrators are being pursued by the forces guarding the city.

New information obtained by the Sudanhorizon news website revealed that life in the city began to gradually return to its normal pattern, and the movement of civilians began to proceed normally, with people going to the markets and getting their errands done.

Eyewitnesses who spoke to Sudanhorizon said that there is an increasing tide of citizens returning to the city as the exodus away from the city has stopped.

Repeated Attacks

The states of Darfur have witnessed fierce battles since the outbreak of war in mid-April last year, and the Rapid Support rebels were able to control four capitals in the region, whose area is equal to the size of the country of France, namely Nyala, El Geneina, Zalingei, and El Daein, but the city of El Fasher, the former capital of the entire region, remained under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and since last April, the city has been subjected to a stifling siege by the Rapid Support Forces, depriving its residents of receiving humanitarian aid and basic services, especially after fighting raged around it between the Sudanese army, supported by the joint forces of the Darfur movements that signed the peace agreement in Juba. And among the people of the city on the one hand, and among the Rapid Support rebels on the other hand.

The Rapid Support rebels launched numerous attacks on the city in their attempt to control it and thus all the capitals of the Darfur region. Civilian facilities, such as water stations and hospitals, were bombed and destroyed, and their equipment and medicinal supplies stolen.

Military sources and eyewitnesses who spoke to the Sudanhorizon news website say that the strongest attack on the city of El-Fasher was last May. It was carried out by three rebel brigades at the same time, and the attack was repelled by the army and joint forces, after which the attack on the city continued at intermittent intervals, with the continuation of the “Fazaa” operations(Fazaa is a sort of rallying call where RSF soldiers coordinate their usually spread forces in a more concentrated manner), more than (70) attacks were launched, including flanking maneuvers and direct attacks, not all of which achieved significant success.

Armament

In their attack on El-Fasher, the Rapid Support rebels used all types of heavy, light and medium weapons and artillery shelling, while supplying weapons and fighters from abroad continued across the Chadian border and the border triangle with Libya.

Militia Leaders Killed

The rebel militia entrusted the task of occupying El Fasher to a large number of its leaders experienced in military operations, including looting and plundering, to invade the city, such as Commander Ali Yaqoub, Abu Shouk, and Al-Nour Al-Qubba, and to a large number of second-ranking leaders, where a number of them were killed, most notably the third man in the field leadership hierarchy. At the Sudan level, he is the leader, Ali Yaqoub.

The killing of Commander Ali Yaqoub in the battles of El-Fasher was a strong blow to the militia’s aspirations because of its importance, especially with regard to operations to mobilize fighters.

Artillery Bombardment

After the rebel militia imposed its siege on the city of El Fasher, and in conjunction with its militarily failure to invade the city, it resorted to using artillery shelling of the city’s neighborhoods and institutions with the aim of emptying them of their residents and harming services within the city using marches and 120-caliber cannons, which led to a large number of casualties among civilians along with the destruction of their homes, with the militia targeting vital institutions, especially hospitals, starting with the Southern Hospital, the Saudi Hospital, the Iqra Health Center, the Jebel Marra Health Center, and ending with the only dialysis center in the city, which led to extremely complex health conditions despite the diligence of the health personnel in the state Ministry of Health.

Going Away

The systematic bombing by the Rapid Support militia led to the city being partially emptied of its residents after the destruction of their homes and the martyrdom of large numbers of civilians, most of them children and women, which led to a large wave of displacement from the city to safer areas such as Tawila locality and the city of Al-Dabbah in the Northern state, and from there to the rest of the cities of Sudan and abroad.

Entrances and Exits of the City

Until now, the Rapid Support rebels control the eastern entrance to the city of El Fasher, where most of the clashes take place. It is considered a gathering center for rebel militia fighters. This road is considered completely out of service. From the northern side, this road is considered one of the most important roads, as it was used by trucks to reach the city by convoys before the exit. The armed movements abandoned their status of “neutrality”, and after the rebel militia took control of the city of Melit, the road became extremely dangerous and was infested with bandits and militia members, before the armed forces regained control of it.

The western road is considered the safest road, as it was secured in coordination with forces affiliated with Commander Abdul Wahed Al-Nour (Karjikula Command), and the patrol system is applied with payment of insurance fees to move within the security patrol.

Humanitarian Situation

The city is witnessing a severe shortage of foodstuffs and a monumental rise in prices after the militia targeted the markets and stopped the arrival of goods to them. It is also suffering from an interruption in electricity, water, and communications services, with an almost complete collapse of the health sector.

The competent authorities are working to open alternative routes to secure entry and exit from the city and for the flow of food and goods into the city, in addition to air drops of medicines, medical supplies, and foodstuffs.