NextFin news, Between August 3 and August 10, 2025, at least 63 civilians have died from starvation in Al-Faschir, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, according to a representative of the North Darfur Health Ministry. Most of the victims were women and children. The deaths were recorded in hospitals, but the actual number may be higher as many families bury their relatives without medical intervention.
Al-Faschir has been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia since May 2024. The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, is engaged in a violent power struggle with Sudan's military government led by Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan. The siege has blocked all roads and humanitarian aid deliveries, leaving approximately 300,000 residents trapped without sufficient food supplies.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has stated that it has been unable to deliver food aid to Al-Faschir by road for over a year due to the blockade. The city is effectively cut off from humanitarian access, forcing residents to survive on limited and often unaffordable food supplies, with some resorting to eating animal fodder.
The conflict in Sudan, ongoing since early 2023, has caused one of the world's largest hunger and refugee crises. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), tens of thousands have been killed and over 14 million people forcibly displaced in the past two years. Al-Faschir remains the last major city in Darfur under government control, with the RSF controlling most of the surrounding region.
The siege and fighting have intensified in recent months, with the RSF tightening the blockade and launching attacks on the city. The humanitarian situation is dire, with the UN warning that thousands face starvation if aid does not reach the population soon.
Sources: DIE ZEIT (August 10, 2025), n-tv.de (August 10, 2025), Deutsche Welle (August 7, 2025)
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