El-Fasher: A Symbol of Resilience as RSF starves the civilian population

By Dr Inas Mohamed Ahmed
There is no place on Earth untouched by war or armed conflict, whether international or internal. Many nations and human societies have endured the horrors and aftermath of war. Warring parties have devised countless ways to inflict pain, coercion, and punishment—most often at the expense of civilians. One of the most horrific and inhumane methods of warfare directed at civilians is the use of starvation—as both a tool of torture and a weapon of war. This is commonly executed through blockades aimed at preventing the entry of food, drinking water, medicine, infant formula, and humanitarian aid, thereby worsening civilian suffering.
Anyone examining the situation in proud and steadfast El-Fasher will find that it is being subjected to the very worst forms of starvation—mirroring what is happening in Gaza. This strongly suggests that the force conducting this war operates with a “Zionist mindset”, even if carried out by different “hands”.
The international community did not formally criminalise the starvation of civilians until 1977, as it directly affects the right to life and can amount to genocide or cause appalling and degrading living conditions for civilians uninvolved in hostilities—civilians who are not parties to the conflict yet suffer its death and devastation.
Historically, international law did not prohibit the starvation of civilians until 1919, and even then, it was not clearly defined as a war crime but merely a “violation” of the laws of war. It was only in 1977 that the world moved to formally criminalise it, recognising it as a war crime and establishing international regulations and procedures accordingly.
However, in order to establish the crime of starvation, international law sets out specific conditions that must be met when a siege is imposed on civilians:
That the primary objective is to starve the civilian population by preventing access to food, medicine, clean water, and humanitarian relief.
That the harm inflicted on civilians is disproportionate to any anticipated military advantage.
That the party enforcing the blockade refuses all negotiation or agreements to allow relief corridors or humanitarian assistance to save civilian lives.
These conditions clarify that such a policy is one of warfare against civilians, making it an international crime for which perpetrators can be held accountable.
International law prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in Protocol I, Article 54(1), of the 1977 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, and in Article 14 of Protocol II (1977). It also prohibits the contamination or destruction of drinking water sources, agricultural crops, livestock, and civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, markets, and electricity networks—all of which are not military targets. Such tactics aim to forcibly displace populations, seize homes or land, or serve as collective punishment for demographic engineering. This also includes the “scorched earth” policy, classified as a form of starvation warfare.
Furthermore, the obstruction of humanitarian aid—including food, medicine, baby formula, and medical supplies destined for civilians—is banned under Article 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in Time of War (1949).
From another angle, international practice—as reflected by the actions of bodies such as the UN Security Council—has recognised the gravity of this issue. When sanctions were imposed on Iraq, Somalia, and Yugoslavia, exemptions were made for food and medicine. This was clearly stated in Resolution 706, adopted on 15 August 1991. Similarly, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (20 November 1959, Resolution 1386) guarantees a child’s right to life, adequate nutrition for growth, and access to healthcare—making starvation fundamentally incompatible with the principles of the United Nations and international agreements on child rights.
Additionally, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as a humanitarian organisation, strongly condemned the starvation of civilians during armed conflict at the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (1995). It reaffirmed this position at the 27th Conference in 1999, firmly establishing that the use of starvation as a method of warfare is internationally prohibited for its inhumanity and breach of international law.
Therefore, the deliberate starvation of civilians during war constitutes a war crime, as affirmed by the International Criminal Court (ICC)—especially as it can serve as a precursor to genocide. The terrorist acts of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have imposed a prolonged siege on the steadfast city of El-Fasher to starve its civilian population, must be added to their long record of atrocities and violations as a clear and indisputable war crime.
Notably, the criminal intent in such cases does not require direct admission from the perpetrator (i.e., the militia), but can be inferred from the overall circumstances and conditions endured by the besieged civilian population. This is consistent with the ICC’s approach to international armed conflicts. It is crucial to highlight a key turning point: non-international armed conflicts were previously outside the ICC’s jurisdiction until Switzerland succeeded in amending the Rome Statute in 2019 to include the starvation of civilians as a war crime under the Court’s purview—an amendment ratified by eleven states.
Consequently, what the criminal terrorist militia is doing—imposing a prolonged siege and starving the population of proud El-Fasher—is not open to interpretation. It is a war crime, plain and simple. The Fact-Finding Mission must treat the starvation of civilians in El-Fasher with the utmost seriousness, hold the criminal militia accountable, and the international community must finally break its shameful silence and move beyond the perennial “expressions of concern” in defence of justice and humanity.
El-Fasher will triumph, God willing—through the resolve of its people and the courage of its defenders—and will rise again in glory, crowned in dignity, completing the joy of Sudan’s victory.

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