Aid groups in Sudan warn of famine and disease as RSF siege traps hundreds of thousands in al-Fashir

Hundreds of thousands remain trapped in Sudan’s al-Fashir as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) tighten their siege. Aid agencies warn of famine, cholera, and rising civilian deaths as food, water, and medical supplies run out across Darfur.

Residents reported constant shelling and sniper attacks, often targeting those trying to flee. Families said they were forced to sleep in the open, exposed to rain, without access to medicine, clean water, or shelter. Many remain separated from loved ones amid the chaos.

Aid workers said overcrowded camps in nearby areas such as Tawila have surpassed capacity. Nearly 90% of the population there now lacks access to safe drinking water or functioning toilets, raising alarms about the potential spread of cholera and other waterborne illnesses.

"The infrastructure has collapsed, and we are seeing cases of starvation and disease rapidly rise," one humanitarian official said.

Heavy rains have compounded the crisis, leaving makeshift shelters flooded and latrines unusable. With no ceasefire in sight and aid deliveries blocked by ongoing fighting, relief groups say the risk of a major health and hunger catastrophe is imminent.

UN agencies and humanitarian organizations have called for urgent international intervention, warning that without access corridors and a halt to the violence, the death toll could rise sharply in the coming weeks.

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