### Al-Fashir: A City in Desolation Following Paramilitary Takeover - The city of Al-Fashir in Sudan has been left in a state of devastation following its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). International aid workers, upon their first access to the city in nearly two years, reported a largely deserted landscape with few signs of life. Survivors are found sheltering in makeshift conditions, highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis that has unfolded since the RSF's capture of the city in October 2025 [https://von.gov.ng/aid-workers-find-little-life-in-al-fashir-after-paramilitary-takeover]. ### Overview of the Situation in Al-Fashir 1. **Humanitarian Crisis**: The United Nations has described Al-Fashir as an "epicentre of human suffering," with traumatized civilians struggling to survive amid a lack of basic necessities such as water and sanitation [https://asaaseradio.com/el-fasher-an-epicentre-of-human-suffering-after-rsf-takeover-un-warns]. 2. **Conditions of Civilians**: Civilians are living in unsafe and undignified conditions, often in abandoned buildings or under plastic sheeting, with reports of famine affecting the population [https://mustaqbalmedia.net/en/un-visit-to-sudans-el-fasher-finds-traumatized-civilians-in-unsafe-conditions]. 3. **Mass Atrocities**: The RSF's takeover has been accompanied by mass atrocities, including massacres and sexual violence, leading to the UN labeling the city as a "crime scene" [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/30/un-finds-sudans-el-fasher-a-crime-scene-first-access-since-rsf-takeover]. 4. **Access Challenges**: Humanitarian access has been severely restricted, with aid workers negotiating hard to gain entry to the city, which remains littered with unexploded ordnance from the conflict [https://24newshd.tv/29-dec-2025/un-visit-sudan-s-el-fasher-finds-traumatised-civilians-unsafe-conditions]. ### Supporting Evidence of the Crisis - **Population Displacement**: The ongoing conflict has displaced over 11 million people, with tens of thousands reported dead [https://mustaqbalmedia.net/en/un-visit-to-sudans-el-fasher-finds-traumatized-civilians-in-unsafe-conditions]. - **Living Conditions**: Survivors are reported to be living without access to clean water or sanitation, with the UN describing the situation as "haunted by famine" [https://mustaqbalmedia.net/en/un-visit-to-sudans-el-fasher-finds-traumatized-civilians-in-unsafe-conditions]. - **Food Supply**: A small market was found operating with limited supplies, indicating that the population cannot afford basic food items [https://mustaqbalmedia.net/en/un-visit-to-sudans-el-fasher-finds-traumatized-civilians-in-unsafe-conditions]. ### Conclusion: A Grim Outlook for Al-Fashir 1. **Severe Humanitarian Needs**: The situation in Al-Fashir is critical, with the UN emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to address the dire conditions faced by the remaining population. 2. **Continued Violence and Instability**: The ongoing conflict and the RSF's control over the city pose significant challenges to restoring stability and providing aid. 3. **Call for Action**: The international community must respond to the humanitarian crisis in Al-Fashir, as the city remains emblematic of the broader suffering experienced across Sudan due to the conflict [https://asaaseradio.com/el-fasher-an-epicentre-of-human-suffering-after-rsf-takeover-un-warns]. In summary, Al-Fashir stands as a stark reminder of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan, necessitating immediate and sustained international attention and intervention.