Following assaults by the Rapid Support Forces, about 60% of the 100,000-people displacement camp located in El Fasher fled their homes on Thursday, media reported, citing the Coordinating Committee for Refugees and Displaced People.
Violence in the region appears to have increased over the past few days, according to videos circulating on social media showing houses engulfed in fire.
According to the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, which analyzes open-source data to track conflicts, satellite images revealed that the RSF troops were observed in many civilian neighborhoods, including Abu Shouk and other locations around El Fasher. These images also suggested that the RSF was launching attacks on the city from several directions.
It's noteworthy that the RSF announced last week their willingness to open "safe passages" out of El-Fasher, which, however, hasn't yet happened.
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 15, 2023, stemming from disagreements between army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo over the integration of the RSF into the army.
The war has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, claiming the lives of at least 15,550 people and displacing millions, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Last Friday, the UN warned it only had 12% of the $2.7 billion it sought in funding for Sudan, warning that "famine is closing in".