A Christian persecution watchdog has called for urgent international action after at least 60 people, including 22 children, were killed in a series of airstrikes by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of El Fasher, North Darfur.
The attacks on 10 October targeted the Dar al-Arqam camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which has become a refuge for thousands of civilians fleeing months of violence. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the RSF also shelled the city’s Saudi Hospital, which is one of the last functioning medical facilities, and a nearby mosque.
El Fasher has been under siege since April 2024 and is the last major city in Darfur not under RSF control. The conflict between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has devastated the region, displacing millions and pushing many communities to the brink of starvation.
Reports also indicate that several churches, including Episcopal and Pentecostal congregations where many Christians had been sheltering, have been occupied by RSF fighters and are being used for military purposes.
CSW chief executive Scot Bower described the latest attacks as “deeply concerning” and warned they may amount to war crimes.
“These latest attacks on an IDP camp, hospital, and mosque may all constitute war crimes, and can be added to the tragically long list of atrocities committed during this brutal conflict,” he said.
“We call yet again on the international community to do all it can to end the siege on El Fasher, protect civilians, and push for an immediate nationwide ceasefire.”
The humanitarian situation in El Fasher continues to deteriorate, with aid routes blocked and civilians trapped amid intense bombardment. Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the two-and-a-half-year conflict.
CSW has joined more than 100 organisations in urging the United Nations and world leaders to act decisively to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, and hold perpetrators accountable.
