Satellite imagery taken between May 5 and 22 revealed extensive destruction in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state in northwestern Sudan.
The images show widespread destruction in entire residential areas in the east and south of the city, as a result of fires and destruction, in light of mutual accusations between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces of responsibility for this destruction.
The RSF posted footage on its account on Monday showing houses burned as a result of Sudanese warplanes bombing neighborhoods in the city.
On the other hand, other reports indicated that the Rapid Support Forces committed massacres against civilians in El Fasher, as the western area of the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people was subjected to heavy bombardment on Wednesday.
A member of the camp’s emergency room, Abdel Hafeez Al-Ghali, explained that the Rapid Support Forces stormed the camp and committed “brutal crimes” against defenseless youth, including beatings, torture, detention, and looting.
The governor of the Darfur region, Minni Arko Minawi, condemned the attack, accusing the Rapid Support Forces of carrying out ethnic bombing aimed at intimidating and displacing the population to facilitate looting and seizure of the region.
According to Radio Dabanga, Sudanese army warplanes bombed positions of the Rapid Support Forces in the east and northeast of El Fasher on Wednesday morning, while the Rapid Support Forces responded with “random” bombing of the city’s neighborhoods, which led to continued clashes between the two sides.
The US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, urged the warring parties to back down from the fighting in El Fasher, allow humanitarian access and provide safe passage for the population.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund, Catherine Russell, said the escalation of fighting in North Darfur had led to “tragic human losses among children” and caused the forced displacement of more than 500,000 people. More than 750,000 children are at risk in El Fasher.
The United States provides emergency aid to Sudan and warns of a “historic famine”