A global hunger observatory has officially confirmed famine conditions in the Sudanese city of al-Fashir, recently seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as in Kadugli, another besieged city in southern Sudan.
The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said Monday that both cities have reached catastrophic hunger levels, marking the first confirmation of famine inside al-Fashir itself — previously limited to displacement camps on the city’s outskirts.
Thousands of civilians have fled al-Fashir toward nearby towns including Tawila, Melit, and Tawisha, recounting desperate conditions under the RSF’s 18-month siege.
“There was no food, no transportation, and it was very difficult to leave home to find water or food,” said Habib Allah Yakoub, a displaced resident, who described being hit by a stray bullet while fetching water.
With supply lines cut off, residents say many were forced to eat animal feed and leather hides to survive. Aid groups warn that tens of thousands remain trapped or missing as fighting continues across Darfur.
The United Nations has received credible reports of atrocities committed by the RSF, including summary executions and widespread sexual violence, particularly against women and girls.
Humanitarian agencies say the situation represents one of the worst hunger crises in the world, with access severely restricted and relief efforts hindered by ongoing conflict and insecurity.
