Intense fighting has resumed between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the armed forces, along with armed resistance movements, in the southeastern area of El Fasher since dawn today. The clashes continued for several hours, leading to numerous civilian casualties who were taken to the southern hospital for treatment. Journalists from El Fasher, who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons, revealed to Radio Dabanga that warplanes conducted airstrikes on the city early this morning, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries that are currently being tallied. Smoke has filled the sky over the city due to the violent battles and exchange of artillery fire. They noted that clashes and artillery bombardment are ongoing as this news was being reported, mentioning the deaths of seven people, including a woman and a child.
The reporters confirmed the evacuation of the El Fasher Children's Hospital early this morning following shelling during the air raid. They explained that sick children are now lying on the ground in neighborhoods under trees due to the hospital's evacuation. The airstrikes also destroyed two houses in the Al-Salam and Al-Wahda neighborhoods, resulting in six deaths and eight injuries. It is noteworthy that the Al-Salam and Al-Wahda neighborhoods, along with the children's hospital, are located in the southeastern direction of El Fasher, an area that had previously been far from the fighting.
### Calls to Stay Indoors
For its part, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minawi stated on its Facebook page on Sunday that the RSF attempted anew to attack El Fasher from the east, north, and south indiscriminately. It accused the RSF of shelling populated civilian areas with heavy weapons, with snipers positioned in the eastern and southern parts of the city. It clarified that the joint forces of armed resistance movements and the armed forces are responding to the attacks, issuing a call for citizens to remain in their homes and avoid the streets and gatherings, emphasizing the need for caution when moving, particularly in the mentioned areas.
### International Concern
Clementine Nkweta Sala, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, expressed her concerns regarding the use of heavy weapons in clashes within the city of El Fasher in Darfur. Sala called on all parties to spare the city from further fighting, stressing that the violence threatens the lives of more than 800,000 people residing there. She noted that the escalation of violence across El Fasher is obstructing the continued flow of aid and goods, pushing people towards the brink of starvation, while severely exhausting the capacity of healthcare facilities. She stated it is "heart-wrenching to witness this nightmare unfold as the conflict continues to spread to large parts of the country, costing the lives of men, women, and children."
Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, expressed his concern regarding reports of escalating conflicts in El Fasher, stating in a post on X that the flames of war in Sudan threaten to consume the city. He added that the people of Darfur need more food, not more fighting, urging all parties to uphold their commitments to protect civilians and immediately de-escalate.
UN Security Council members, alongside the UN, African Union, IGAD, and various countries, have warned against the attack on El Fasher, which is home to 800,000 people and contains numerous shelters and displacement camps. With the increase in hostilities, El Fasher is experiencing fluctuations in communication, particularly in the northern part of the city, hampering families from contacting their loved ones.
