A Nation on Edge
Sudan’s humanitarian tragedy continues to worsen as General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, visited a displacement camp on Saturday. The camp houses thousands of civilians who fled the city of El-Fasher, a major urban center in the Darfur region, recently seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Burhan, dressed in full military uniform, was greeted by soldiers and desperate families seeking reassurance. His visit aimed to highlight the government’s presence in areas still under army control and to draw attention to the growing scale of human suffering caused by the prolonged civil war.
Growing Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis
According to aid organizations, tens of thousands of people have fled El-Fasher and surrounding towns since the RSF captured the city after an 18-month siege. Many of the displaced now live in makeshift shelters with limited access to clean water, food, or medical care.
The United Nations Human Rights Office has raised the alarm about civilians still trapped in the conflict zone. Satellite images and eyewitness testimonies describe burned neighborhoods, destroyed hospitals, and mass graves. Families have been separated, and children are at high risk of disease and malnutrition.
Humanitarian groups warn that the crisis in Sudan has reached catastrophic levels. Since the conflict began in April 2023, the war has killed at least 40,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), though many believe the actual number is far higher. The fighting has displaced over 12 million Sudanese, making it one of the largest displacement crises in the world.
Nearly half of Sudan’s 45 million citizens are now facing acute food insecurity, and the country’s healthcare system has collapsed under the pressure. Entire communities depend on limited humanitarian convoys that struggle to reach them due to ongoing clashes and blocked roads.
The Fall of El-Fasher
El-Fasher, once a strategic and historic capital of North Darfur, has become a symbol of Sudan’s suffering. The RSF’s takeover followed months of siege that left residents without electricity, clean water, and basic medicine.
Witnesses say RSF fighters stormed the Saudi Hospital, killing more than 450 people including patients and medical staff. Survivors recount horrific scenes of house-to-house attacks, sexual assaults, and looting of aid warehouses.
Although the RSF denies the accusations, claiming its forces targeted only military positions, multiple independent investigations, including those by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and satellite monitoring groups, confirm widespread civilian casualties. Videos shared online reveal blackened ruins, burned homes, and families escaping on foot through the desert.
Power Struggle Behind the Conflict
The war in Sudan began as a power struggle between General Burhan, head of the national army, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, leader of the RSF.
What started as a political disagreement over the integration of paramilitary forces into the regular army quickly spiraled into a full-scale civil war. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including indiscriminate shelling, targeted killings, and ethnic-based violence, particularly in Darfur, a region long scarred by past genocides.
Diplomatic efforts led by the African Union, the United Nations, and regional mediators have so far failed to bring a lasting ceasefire. Several peace talks have collapsed due to mutual distrust, violations, and competing international interests.
Humanitarian Voices and Global Reaction
International concern over Sudan’s crisis is growing. The UN Secretary-General has described the situation as “a nightmare for the Sudanese people and a stain on the world’s conscience.”
Humanitarian agencies such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continue to provide limited medical and food support but warn that without security guarantees, aid operations could soon halt completely.
Neighboring countries, Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt are struggling to cope with the influx of refugees crossing their borders daily. Many arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, seeking safety in overcrowded camps that lack infrastructure and sanitation.
The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that more than 25 million Sudanese urgently need humanitarian assistance. Crops have failed, trade routes are blocked, and inflation has made essential goods unaffordable for ordinary citizens.
A Call for Peace and Accountability
As the violence spreads, human rights groups are demanding accountability for atrocities committed by all sides. Calls are growing for an international investigation into war crimes and for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow safe passage for civilians.
General Burhan’s recent visit to the displacement camp may symbolize resilience, but many Sudanese view it as a sign of how fragile the situation has become. The people of Sudan are caught between two warring powers, with little hope of immediate peace.
Without a coordinated international response and a firm political settlement, Sudan risks sliding further into total collapse, threatening stability across the Horn of Africa.
Conclusion
The tragedy in Sudan is not just a political or military conflict, it is a humanitarian emergency affecting millions. As cities fall and camps overflow, the world watches one of the largest displacement crises of our time unfold.
Only a comprehensive ceasefire, genuine dialogue, and unrestricted aid access can begin to heal the wounds of this devastated nation. Until then, the people of Sudan continue to pay the highest price for a war they did not choose.