NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday voiced deep concern over a raid by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the besieged city of El-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur region.
The council warned that the violence against civilians could escalate into widespread, ethnically driven massacres.
In a statement adopted by consensus, council members condemned the RSF’s offensive and its “devastating impact on the civilian population.”
They also reaffirmed Resolution 2736 (2024), which demands that the RSF end its siege of El-Fasher and immediately cease hostilities.
The council called upon all sides to “protect civilians and abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law,” while stressing the need for “safe passage for those trying to flee the city.”
The statement called on all parties to “allow and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access,” and reaffirmed the council’s opposition to any “parallel governing authority” in areas under RSF control.
It also urged states to refrain from “external interference which seeks to foment conflict and instability.”
Catastrophic situation on ground
The Security Council’s message came as top UN officials described a catastrophic situation on the ground.
UN Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher told the Security Council that after more than a year under siege, El-Fasher has “descended into an even darker hell.”
Fletcher reported that nearly 500 people — including patients and their relatives — were killed this week at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El-Fasher, calling the incident “yet another example of the utter depravity that has defined this war.”
“Those who want to leave El-Fasher must be able to do so safely. Those who remain must be protected,” Fletcher said.
He said the UN had been repeatedly blocked by the RSF from delivering food and medicine, even as “tens of thousands of terrified, starving civilians” fled on foot toward Tawila, itself overwhelmed with displaced people.
“Famine is confirmed, and severe food insecurity is spreading. Blood on the sand. And Mr. President, blood on the hands.”
Situation is horrifying
Assistant Secretary-General Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee informed the Security Council that El-Fasher had fallen to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after more than 500 days under siege, with only “small pockets of resistance” left.
“The situation is utterly horrifying,” Pobee said. “Over the past week, the UN Human Rights Office has documented extensive and grave violations — including mass killings and summary executions carried out during house-to-house searches and as civilians attempted to flee.”
She added that communication links with the city had been cut, making it difficult to determine the full extent of the casualties. “Despite assurances to protect civilians, the reality is stark — no one is safe in El-Fasher, and there are no secure routes for civilians to escape.”
Pobee also highlighted reports of atrocities in North Kordofan, where 50 civilians and five Red Crescent volunteers were reportedly killed in Bara following the RSF’s capture of the town. “These attacks appear to be ethnically motivated reprisals,” she said.
Pakistan condemns siege of El-Fasher
Speaking at the session, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar, strongly condemned the RSF’s takeover, describing it as “a glimpse of war crimes.”
He emphasised that the humanitarian violations in Darfur were unacceptable, adding that escalating tensions had left women, children, and the elderly unsafe. “Sudan’s sovereignty and regional stability are at risk,” he warned.
Asim Iftikhar urged the international community to ensure accountability for the RSF, calling for an end to the civil war, a political solution, and transparent judicial proceedings. He also demanded immediate global action on the Darfur crisis and urged all parties to uphold international humanitarian law.
He further called for an investigation into obstructions in aid delivery to Sudan and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace and humanitarian efforts in the region.
