In the early hours of October 10, 2025, tragedy struck the city of el-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur province. A shelter for displaced families, known as the al-Arqam Home and located within the grounds of Omdurman Islamic University, became the latest target in Sudan’s relentless civil war. According to the Sudan Doctors’ Network, a group of medical professionals tracking the ongoing conflict, at least 53 people lost their lives in a shelling and drone attack launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious Sudanese paramilitary group. Among those killed were 14 children and 15 women, painting a harrowing picture of the conflict’s toll on the most vulnerable.
The attack did not spare those who survived. Another 21 individuals, including five children and seven women, were wounded—most of them suffering serious injuries, the Sudan Doctors’ Network reported. For the people of el-Fasher, this was not just another day in a city under siege; it was a devastating escalation in what has already become one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises.
El-Fasher, once a bustling provincial capital, has become the epicenter of the war between Sudan’s military and the RSF. For over a year, the city has stood as the military’s last stronghold in Darfur, enduring regular bombardments and a suffocating blockade imposed by the paramilitaries in July 2025. The United Nations and aid organizations estimate that around 260,000 civilians are now trapped within the city’s limits, their lives upended by violence, hunger, and disease.
The RSF’s attack on the al-Arqam Home was immediately condemned by medical and human rights groups. The Sudan Doctors’ Network did not mince words, declaring, “This massacre represents a continuation of the scorched-earth policy practiced by the Rapid Support Forces against civilians, in flagrant violation of all international norms and laws.” The Mashad Organisation, a rights group monitoring the conflict, described the assault as “one of the most atrocious massacres” since the RSF began its offensive on el-Fasher more than a year ago. They went further, calling it “an act of genocide carried out before the eyes of a silent world.”
The RSF, for its part, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving survivors and observers to grapple with the aftermath on their own. The silence from the group has only deepened the sense of isolation and abandonment felt by those still inside el-Fasher.
The blockade imposed by the RSF has cut off the city from outside aid, making the situation inside increasingly desperate. Food supplies are dwindling, and hunger is a daily reality for many. Disease outbreaks, including cholera, have taken hold, compounding the misery. The United Nations has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the humanitarian disaster unfolding in el-Fasher, but the international response has so far failed to break the siege or provide meaningful relief to those trapped.
Sudan’s descent into chaos began in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between the military and the RSF erupted into open combat in the capital, Khartoum, and quickly spread across the country. What started as a power struggle between two factions has since metastasized into a full-blown civil war, leaving tens of thousands dead and forcing more than 14 million people from their homes. The conflict has pushed parts of Sudan into famine, with no end in sight.
The violence in Darfur, and particularly in el-Fasher, is not new. The region has a grim history of conflict, displacement, and atrocities dating back decades. However, the latest events mark a chilling escalation. The International Criminal Court is currently investigating the war for crimes including mass killings and rape—acts that, according to multiple sources including the Associated Press, may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
For the people of el-Fasher, each day brings new challenges and heartbreak. The city’s residents have watched as their neighbors and loved ones fall victim to violence, hunger, and disease. Families sheltering at places like the al-Arqam Home hoped for a modicum of safety, only to find themselves in the crosshairs of a conflict that shows little regard for civilian life.
Humanitarian groups and rights organizations continue to document and decry the suffering. The Mashad Organisation’s characterization of the recent attack as “an act of genocide” reflects growing concern that the violence in Darfur is not just collateral damage, but a deliberate campaign against a besieged population. The Sudan Doctors’ Network’s assertion that the RSF is pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” echoes similar warnings from international observers who see a pattern of systematic targeting of civilians.
As the world watches, the question remains: what will it take for the violence to end, and for meaningful aid to reach those most in need? The United Nations and other international bodies have called for ceasefires, humanitarian corridors, and accountability for those responsible for atrocities. Yet, the blockade of el-Fasher persists, and the RSF’s attacks continue with impunity.
For Sudan, the war has left deep scars—physical, emotional, and societal. The displacement of over 14 million people is staggering, and the death toll continues to climb. Famine looms over large swathes of the country, exacerbated by the inability of aid agencies to reach those in need. The international community, while vocal in its condemnation, has so far struggled to marshal the political will or resources necessary to halt the violence or provide adequate relief.
The attack on the al-Arqam Home is only the latest in a long series of tragedies. Each incident chips away at the fabric of Sudanese society, making the prospect of peace and reconciliation ever more remote. Yet, amid the devastation, stories of resilience and solidarity persist. Medical professionals, aid workers, and ordinary citizens continue to risk their lives to help others, even as the world’s attention drifts elsewhere.
The situation in el-Fasher is a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the urgent need for action. As the conflict grinds on, the city’s trapped residents—and millions of Sudanese like them—wait for the day when the guns fall silent, the siege is lifted, and the country can begin to heal. Until then, their struggle continues, largely out of sight, but never out of mind for those who bear witness to their suffering.