UN says El Fasher is a 'massive crime scene': Survivors tell DW News of the horrors they witnessed

Key Concepts

• Sudan Conflict: Ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.
• Alfasia Siege: An 18-month siege of the city of Alfasia in North Darfur by the RSF, culminating in widespread violence and displacement.
• Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group in Sudan accused of numerous atrocities, including torture, sexual violence, and extortion.
• Humanitarian Crisis: A severe humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan, characterized by mass displacement, food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, and widespread violence.
• Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV): A pervasive issue in the conflict, with reports of widespread rape and sexual assault committed by both the RSF and SAF.
• UN Humanitarian Response: Efforts by the United Nations and aid organizations to provide life-saving assistance to those affected by the conflict.
• Accountability & Justice: The demand for investigations and prosecution of those responsible for atrocities committed during the conflict.

The Sudan Conflict: 1000 Days of Crisis – A Detailed Account

I. The Escalating Humanitarian Catastrophe

The report marks 1000 days since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, between the Sudanese army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This fighting has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, described as one of the world’s worst. The focus is on the situation in Alfasia, North Darfur, which endured an 18-month siege by the RSF before falling under their control. A recent UN team gained access to Alfasia, characterizing it as a “crime scene.” Over 10 million people have been displaced by the war, and the UN is attempting to reach 18 million with humanitarian assistance, currently only 35% funded. The country’s size – comparable to France, Germany, Italy, and Spain combined – and the reliance on road transport complicate aid delivery.

II. Witness Accounts from Alfasia Survivors

The report features testimonies from survivors who fled Alfasia to the Tawila displacement camp near El Fascia. Muhammad, a survivor, recounts being captured by the RSF while attempting to escape Alaser after its fall in late October. He details horrific experiences of torture, including beatings, being submerged in sewage, and forced labor. He states approximately 140 people from his group were killed during the capture. His story, while unverified, highlights the brutality inflicted by the RSF. He was held for a month and his family was forced to pay a ransom of 11 million Sudanese pounds (approximately €3,000) for his release.

Images from Yale University Research Lab show the RSF constructing sand barriers around Alfasia, trapping civilians and facilitating massacres. The RSF themselves released a video depicting dead bodies and burning vehicles, corroborating the accounts of widespread violence.

III. Widespread Sexual Violence and Extortion

The report emphasizes the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the conflict. Doctors Without Borders recorded over 1,000 cases of sexual violence in Tawila alone in the past year. Wisal Ismael, a protection officer with a local NGO, reports instances of rape committed by both the RSF and the Sudanese armed forces. She also details widespread extortion, citing an incident in the Carney area where seven women and ten men were beaten, tortured, and forced to pay ransom, with all the women being subjected to sexual assault by security forces. Many survivors are reluctant to report abuse due to shame and fear.

IV. UN Assessment of Alfasia and Challenges to Aid Delivery

Denise Brown, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, describes the UN team’s recent visit to Alfasia. Access was granted only after securing guarantees of safe passage from the RSF due to the intense fighting and the presence of unexploded ordnance (landmines, anti-tank mines). The team visited the Saudi hospital, which had been the site of an alleged massacre of over 450 people in October, but found it largely empty of patients and supplies, having been inaccessible for almost two months.

The team observed hundreds of displaced people living in abandoned buildings or makeshift shelters with no access to clean water, raising concerns about a potential cholera outbreak, similar to the 2015 epidemic in Darfur. The local economy is dysfunctional, with limited access to food and essential supplies. The UN team prioritized access to clean water, hospital supplies, and nutritious food for unaccompanied children.

Brown emphasized the difficulty of delivering large-scale humanitarian assistance while lacking guarantees of safe passage and fearing confiscation of supplies by the RSF. She stated that Alfasia is effectively a “crime scene” and that investigations are needed to document and address the atrocities committed.

V. Accountability and the Need for International Attention

Brown highlighted the ongoing work of the UN Human Rights office to investigate alleged atrocities, including killings, summary executions, and sexual violence. She emphasized the need for detailed documentation and accountability for those responsible. She noted a pattern of sexual violence throughout the conflict.

Brown concluded by appealing to the international community to pay greater attention to the crisis in Sudan, emphasizing the scale of the suffering and the lack of global mobilization despite the ongoing atrocities. She relayed a message from women she met, urging the world to “consider us” and recognize the shocking scale of the violence.

Technical Terms & Concepts:

• Paramilitary: A semi-military force whose organizational structure, training, equipment, and function are similar to those of a professional military force, but which is not considered part of the state's official armed forces.
• Displaced Persons (IDPs): Individuals or groups forced to leave their homes due to conflict, violence, or natural disasters, but who remain within their country's borders.
• Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): Explosive weapons (bombs, shells, landmines, etc.) that did not explode when initially used and remain dangerous.
• SGBV (Sexual and Gender-Based Violence): Violence directed against a person because of their gender. It includes sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse.
• Cross-border Aid: Humanitarian assistance delivered across international borders to reach populations in need.
• Cholera: An infectious diarrheal disease caused by bacteria, often spread through contaminated water.

Conclusion:

The situation in Sudan, particularly in Alfasia, represents a catastrophic humanitarian crisis marked by widespread violence, displacement, and suffering. The report underscores the urgent need for increased international attention, humanitarian assistance, and accountability for the atrocities committed by both the RSF and SAF. The challenges to aid delivery, coupled with the pervasive sexual violence and economic collapse, demand a comprehensive and sustained response to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. The 1000-day mark serves as a stark reminder of the prolonged and devastating impact of this conflict.