What You Need to Know
Mohamed Al-Hafez Ibrahim Hamid, a Sudanese refugee, shares his traumatic experiences in El Fasher, North Darfur, where residents faced relentless bombardment and starvation. He recounts the loss of family members and the desperate measures taken to escape the violence, revealing the harsh realities of life under siege and the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Africa. Mohamed Al-Hafez Ibrahim Hamid revealed shocking details about the suffering of residents in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, who have been under siege and continuous bombardment by the Rapid Support Forces.
In his testimony to a local source, Al-Hafez recounted how he lost his nephew and cousin in the shelling that targeted the city, along with dozens of other victims. He himself was injured but managed to get medical help due to his proximity to a medical center.
Al-Hafez described life under bombardment as a constant struggle for survival. He explained that residents hid between the walls of houses and narrow alleys, returning home whenever the shelling eased, but the calm never lasted more than fifteen minutes before the bombardment intensified again, forcing them into a state of perpetual displacement within their own city.
He also spoke of another suffering no less severe than the bombardment: the famine experienced by El Fasher’s residents. He noted that the meal of “Al-Ambaz” (the remnants of oil extraction) became the primary and only food for the population, with no bread, rice, or other food supplies available.
He pointed out that this meal, which was initially cheap, became scarce and expensive as the siege tightened and the entry of supplies from outside the city was blocked. Even individual attempts to smuggle food were met with violent reprisals from the Rapid Support Forces.
Decision to Escape
In light of these harsh conditions, the dual suffering from bombardment and hunger compelled Al-Hafez and his family to decide to leave El Fasher, despite the warnings and imminent dangers. The equation became difficult between “hunger inside or death outside,” leaving them with no choice but to risk leaving.
Al-Hafez devised a successful strategy for escape, avoiding the checkpoints of the Rapid Support Forces around the city. He first sent his wife and children to find a safe route, then followed them later with his brothers, Maysar and Al-Baqir, emphasizing the importance of leaving very early, just after dawn prayers, to avoid heavy checkpoints.
However, escaping from the besieged El Fasher came at a heavy price: the disintegration of the family. He had to leave behind two brothers and a cousin, and he lost all contact with them after the recent events, while his mother remained there without any news of her fate.
During the escape, Al-Hafez faced new hardships, as merely being from the city made him a suspect of carrying weapons or military affiliation, subjecting him to prolonged interrogations at every checkpoint, especially in the Hamra Sheikh area known for its strict questioning.
Targeting the Youth
Al-Hafez documented the most dangerous practices of the Rapid Support Forces on the road, revealing how they specifically target young people for detention for days or weeks, then contact their families via phone to demand large sums of money for their release.
He noted that he personally witnessed a bus full of young gold miners being humiliated and detained during inspection operations.
In October 2025, the Rapid Support Forces launched a large-scale attack on El Fasher from multiple fronts, concluding a series of military operations that exceeded 260 attempts since the beginning of the siege.
The attacks focused on the headquarters of the sixth infantry division, coinciding with heavy bombardment targeting the main market and areas where displaced people gathered, leading to a significant increase in civilian casualties.
The Rapid Support Forces announced their complete control over El Fasher, amid reports of over two thousand civilian deaths during the first days of the attack, alongside widespread displacement of the population.
This was followed by statements from the United Nations, the United States, and Britain, calling for the opening of safe humanitarian corridors, warning of the potential for serious violations based on ethnic and tribal grounds, which, according to testimonies from survivors and escapees, indeed occurred.
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been a focal point of conflict and humanitarian crises in Sudan. The region has experienced ongoing violence, particularly from the Rapid Support Forces, leading to significant civilian casualties and displacement. The situation has drawn international attention, with calls for humanitarian aid and protection for vulnerable populations, as the conflict continues to escalate and affect the lives of countless individuals.
