Residents of Sudan's El-Fasher are enduring catastrophic living conditions following the city's capture by paramilitary forces in October 2025, according to a United Nations report. A UN humanitarian team visited the war-torn city last Friday for the first time in nearly two years, revealing widespread destruction, famine risks, and potential detainees under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown described El-Fasher as a "crime scene" during her interview with AFP, emphasizing that survivors face "precarious" conditions without access to water or sanitation. Once home to over a million people, large sections of the city now lie in ruins, with displaced families sheltering in damaged buildings.
The conflict between Sudan's regular army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has created what Brown calls "the epicenter of human suffering" in El-Fasher. Despite securing limited access to assess needs, aid workers remain unable to reach detainees or establish sustained relief operations. A local hospital visited by the UN team was reportedly overwhelmed with patients amid collapsing infrastructure.
Humanitarian organizations continue negotiating with RSF leaders to expand access as famine warnings intensify. The crisis highlights urgent regional stability concerns for investors and policymakers monitoring Africa's third-largest country.
