Survivors describe horrific scenes in Sudan's el-Fasher after paramilitary group's takeover.
A desperate bid for survival has been unfolding in the western Sudanese city of el-Fasher, where a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control on Sunday, leaving thousands in its wake. According to aid workers, only a small fraction of the city's residents have managed to escape the violence.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of atrocities committed by the RSF. Hayat, a mother of five who fled with her neighbours, recounted that seven RSF fighters ransacked her home and killed her 16-year-old son in front of her. The scene is echoed by others who describe seeing numerous dead bodies on the ground and wounded people left behind.
"It's so terrible – dead bodies in the streets, and no one to bury them," said Hussein, another survivor who was wounded during shelling but managed to reach a town called Tawila with the help of a family carrying their mother. "We're grateful we made it here, even if we only have the clothes we were wearing."
Aisha Ismael, a displaced person from el-Fasher, described her terrifying ordeal as she fled with her family, saying they were shelled and attacked by the RSF until they finally found shelter in Hillat Alsheth. She arrived at Tawila barefoot, having lost everything.
The situation has prompted international concern, with aid workers expressing alarm over the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The United Nations Humanitarian Chief warned of "catastrophic levels of human suffering" and a situation that has descended into an even darker hell.
According to satellite imagery reported by Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab, the scope of the violence is staggering, with large areas of red discolouration on the ground indicative of human bodies.
The aid efforts are under significant strain, with many people in dire need of medical assistance due to their ordeal. The Norwegian Refugee Council described the number of people who managed to reach Tawila as "very small," prompting questions about where others may be.
In an emergency meeting at the UN Security Council on Thursday, Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric expressed alarm over reports of mass killings by the RSF and called for increased efforts to scale up response efforts in the region.
A desperate bid for survival has been unfolding in the western Sudanese city of el-Fasher, where a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control on Sunday, leaving thousands in its wake. According to aid workers, only a small fraction of the city's residents have managed to escape the violence.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of atrocities committed by the RSF. Hayat, a mother of five who fled with her neighbours, recounted that seven RSF fighters ransacked her home and killed her 16-year-old son in front of her. The scene is echoed by others who describe seeing numerous dead bodies on the ground and wounded people left behind.
"It's so terrible – dead bodies in the streets, and no one to bury them," said Hussein, another survivor who was wounded during shelling but managed to reach a town called Tawila with the help of a family carrying their mother. "We're grateful we made it here, even if we only have the clothes we were wearing."
Aisha Ismael, a displaced person from el-Fasher, described her terrifying ordeal as she fled with her family, saying they were shelled and attacked by the RSF until they finally found shelter in Hillat Alsheth. She arrived at Tawila barefoot, having lost everything.
The situation has prompted international concern, with aid workers expressing alarm over the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The United Nations Humanitarian Chief warned of "catastrophic levels of human suffering" and a situation that has descended into an even darker hell.
According to satellite imagery reported by Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab, the scope of the violence is staggering, with large areas of red discolouration on the ground indicative of human bodies.
The aid efforts are under significant strain, with many people in dire need of medical assistance due to their ordeal. The Norwegian Refugee Council described the number of people who managed to reach Tawila as "very small," prompting questions about where others may be.
In an emergency meeting at the UN Security Council on Thursday, Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric expressed alarm over reports of mass killings by the RSF and called for increased efforts to scale up response efforts in the region.
this is so messed up, what kinda people just kill innocent ppl? 
i dont think i could survive that kinda trauma, i would be lost forever 
and the fact that international aid workers are saying its catastrophic levels of human suffering just gets me, we need to do more ASAP 
and can u believe the RSF is like a paramilitary group or something? how did they even get this far without being stopped? 
. How can anyone justify this level of violence? The scenes described, with dead bodies on the streets and wounded people left behind, is just too much to comprehend 
how can someone kill a 16-year-old kid? 
it's like they didnt even care about human life 
and now thousands of ppl r stuck in el Fasher w/ no way to escape or get help 
aid workers r doin there best but its clear theres not enuf resources being poured into this crisis 
we gotta do somethin to help these survivors who are still in dire need of medical aid & shelter 
. And can you even imagine being left with nothing but the clothes on your back and having to beg for shelter? It's like, what even is humanity doing at this point? 
. It's like, we need some answers over here! 
. I mean, the UN is saying there are catastrophic levels of human suffering... that's not even an exaggeration at this point 