Famine and Siege Threatens Thousands of Lives

Khartoum Highlight The Famine crisis in Al-Fasher has become a severe humanitarian emergency.
Thousands of families face the risk of starvation due to the siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since May 2024. The blockade has caused food prices to soar by up to 460 percent.
Communal kitchens and food warehouses have collapsed. In a sudden development, Al-Fasher’s communal kitchen  “Tekiya”— the largest providing meals to thousands of residents — announced the suspension of donations due to a lack of food supplies in the city.

According to United Nations reports, Al-Fasher is the only city in the Darfur region still under army control.
With the siege ongoing and because of Famine, residents are relying on primitive food sources such as animal feed. Humanitarian organizations have warned that the situation is worsening as the blockade continues, depriving residents of basic means of survival. The United Nations issued an urgent appeal for humanitarian aid to Al-Fasher. Hundreds of thousands of residents need immediate food and medical assistance. The Sudan Doctors Network warned that hunger levels in the city have reached “Phase 3 (Emergency)” according to the international food insecurity classification. A report by Médecins Sans Frontières revealed systematic patterns of violence. These include looting, mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and starvation. The report also documented attacks targeting markets, healthcare facilities, and other civilian infrastructure.

A City Starving, a World Watching

The siege of Al-Fasher is not merely a local tragedy; rather, it is a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent global action. Moreover, the prolonged blockade has pushed the city to the edge of famine.  Leaving thousands of families without food, clean water, or medical supplies. In addition, ongoing shelling and targeted attacks on civilian areas have intensified the suffering . As a result, the city stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of inaction. Therefore, the international community must act swiftly—not only to break the siege—but to prevent Al-Fashir from becoming another symbol of the world’s failure to protect the innocent.

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