Aid agencies fear for thousands of displaced civilians in Sudan caught between government and paramilitary forces in Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has taken control of the city of El-Fasher. In a press release, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said they were “deeply alarmed by the worsening humanitarian situation as thousands continue to flee El Fasher in Darfur, Sudan towards Tawila in search of safety”. They continued:
Thousands of newly displaced people have arrived in Tawila in recent weeks, joining around 400,000 people already displaced and living there, putting immense strain on already limited resources and services.
IRC Darfur lead Arjan Hehenkamp described El-Fasher as “a hellscape, a city torn apart by conflict, destruction, and despair”:
They come with nothing but the clothes on their backs, severely traumatized, looking for safety and support. But Tawila itself is at breaking point. Without a significant scale-up in humanitarian assistance, the suffering here will deepen further.
Sudan’s El Fasher: fall of a city
The BBC said it had verified footage of RSF fighters celebrating in front of government buildings. Ayin Network appeared to confirm the city was in RSF control:
After 16 months of fighting, the Rapid Support Forces take control of the army base in El Fasher
Over the past month, RSF has intensified drone and artillery attacks, tightening the siege on El Fasher and confining army forces to limited areas.
On Sept 18, RSF’s capture of the… pic.twitter.com/TN3Ac60UKw
— Ayin Network – شبكة عاين (@AyinSudan) October 26, 2025
Ayin Network also reported that the main army base in the city has fallen:
RSF Seizes Sudan Army’s Final Stronghold in Darfur
Ayin – October 26, 2025The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken full control of the Sudanese army’s 6th Infantry Division headquarters in El Fasher, the last government base in Darfur, marking a major shift in the war after 16… pic.twitter.com/N3IVtWgkg0
— Ayin Network – شبكة عاين (@AyinSudan) October 26, 2025
A top UN humanitarian official said that civilians must be allowed safe passage:
With fighters pushing further into the city and escape routes cut off, hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped and terrified – shelled, starving, and without access to food, healthcare, or safety.
Civilians must be allowed safe passage and be able to access aid.
RSF and government forces have been fighting since 2023. In September, the UN said up to 30mn people need humanitarian assistance and up to 9.8mn are displaced in the country. Some estimates say 150,000 people have been killed as a result of the war. RSF controls most of Darfur in the south-west of the country.
Featured image via the Canary
