August 23, El Fasher — Famine is looming in El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur State. The city, considered the stronghold of the Sudanese army in Darfur, has been under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) siege since last May.
Saddam Ishaq, an El Fasher resident, told Darfur24 that the living conditions have become critical due to the five months blockade imposed on the city and the ongoing fighting. Market prices are skyrocketing.
Activist Salma Adam said that the majority of families are suffering, and have sent their children to beg.
Last month, the World Health Organization reported that 800,000 people were trapped in El Fasher where supplies were running out. Famine was just declared in Zamzamp camp, where people were reported to be starving to death. In the past year, the population of El Fasher’s displacement camps — which were originally formed by the genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s — has rapidly increased as people have fled fighting in other parts of the region.