Calls for Residents to Leave El Fasher Amid Escalating Clashes and Food Shortages
The “Neutral Force” responsible for protecting civilians in Darfur announced on Saturday that it is coordinating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to open safe corridors for evacuating civilians from El Fasher and Zamzam Camp in North Darfur, western Sudan, due to intensified military operations and a severe deterioration in humanitarian conditions.
The Neutral Force includes armed factions aligned with the founding Sudanese coalition “Ta’sees” and the RSF. It comprises the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Abdel Aziz Adam Al-Hilu, the Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council led by El-Hadi Idris, and the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces headed by Al-Taher Hajar. In a statement, the group urged citizens to follow instructions to ensure their safe passage to villages under their control in North Darfur state.
The Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council also called on all residents of El Fasher and the adjacent Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps to leave areas of conflict and move to its controlled areas in the Kurma locality and other safe zones in the state. It stated that the appeal was made due to the escalation of military operations in El Fasher, the worsening humanitarian situation, and the need to protect the lives of unarmed civilians.
El Fasher on a Hot Plate
A former member of the Sovereignty Council told Asharq Al-Awsat that El Fasher is “sitting on a hotplate” and is “on the brink of intense military escalation.” He urged residents to leave areas of conflict. El-Hadi Idris, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council, added, “We have instructed our forces to secure safe corridors for civilians and humanitarian aid convoys.” He appealed to humanitarian organizations to urgently provide aid in safe areas, affirming the movement’s full readiness to coordinate and cooperate.
In a statement released Friday night, the movement said its forces, in cooperation with those in the “Ta’sees Alliance,” are ready to provide full protection and open safe corridors, particularly in El Fasher and Kurma.
According to the El Fasher Resistance Committees Coordination, the city, home to over 800,000 people — including more than 120,000 displaced since the outbreak of fighting in Darfur — is in dire need of food, water, and medicine. Aid agencies operating in the area report that over 70% of El Fasher’s population requires assistance. Over the past three months, deaths due to hunger, thirst, and lack of healthcare have been recorded.
The RSF has besieged El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, since last October, engaging in fierce battles with the Sudanese army and allied joint forces from other armed movements.
Army: The City Is Safe
Relief agencies say the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the city and surrounding camps has forced hundreds of residents to flee to safer areas within the region. Local sources reported that on Saturday, the RSF renewed heavy shelling on Zamzam Camp, located about 15 kilometers from El Fasher.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army’s Sixth Infantry Division in El Fasher released a statement accusing the RSF of spreading rumors about an imminent attack on the city, claiming it surrounds El Fasher from several directions. “These are lies aimed at spreading panic and displacement,” the army said. It urged all residents “not to heed these misleading messages and to immediately report any suspicious activity or unfamiliar individuals.”
The army confirmed that the city is relatively stable, with the security situation under full control. It stated that its forces remain steadfast and are working in full coordination to protect the city and its residents.
The statement added that “the army, joint forces, and other fighters are conducting extensive sweeps within residential neighborhoods to prevent the infiltration of saboteurs and safeguard citizens’ security and property.”
Over recent days, localities in North Darfur have received hundreds of families fleeing from El Fasher and Zamzam Camp due to hunger. These families now face harsh conditions and are living without shelter in the open.
