UN Sudan el-Fasher Humanitarian Crisis 2025: A 'Crime Scene' Exposed

A city that once breathed life is now nothing more than a vast, silent graveyard. A United Nations team has described the city of el-Fasher as a "crime scene" after gaining access for the first time since its takeover by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in October 2025. What they found wasn't just a fallen stronghold, but the grim aftermath of ethnically motivated mass atrocities.

UN Sudan el-Fasher Humanitarian Crisis 2025: Investigating Mass Atrocities

According to Reuters, UN humanitarian coordinator Denise Brown reported that her staff saw "very few people" during their hours-long visit to the largely deserted city. Those remaining are sheltering in skeletal buildings or under basic plastic sheets. Meanwhile, a report from Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab has documented a systematic effort by the RSF to erase evidence of mass killings. Satellite imagery revealed that by late November 2025, nearly 38% of sites containing human remains were no longer visible.

Staggering Malnutrition and Displacement

The humanitarian toll is catastrophic. UNICEF warned on Monday of an "unprecedented level" of child malnutrition in North Darfur. Specifically, 53% of children screened in the Um Baru locality were found to be acutely malnourished. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has now displaced 14 million people, including 4.3 million who have fled to neighboring countries like Chad.

Military Solution vs. Humanitarian Need

Diplomatic efforts are hitting a brick wall. Army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan recently rejected further negotiations, demanding the RSF's total surrender. The US Department of State expressed deep concern over this military-first rhetoric, urging a path toward peace. As of now, 30.4 million Sudanese require urgent humanitarian assistance, but funding cuts have forced the UN to halve its aid appeals.