Rapid Support Forces Massacre Civilians and Destroy El-Fasher, Forcing Thousands to Flee Starving on Foot

After an 18-month siege, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed and seized el-Fasher with a multi-wave assault marked by house-to-house killings, sexual violence, and abductions.

“The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of El Fasher, a city besieged for 18 months and labeled by the UN as the "epicentre of suffering”

ABC News

The assault also included an attack on a hospital that left at least 460 staff, patients, and civilians dead, according to multiple outlets.

ABC News

Western mainstream reports describe the city as the epicentre of suffering during the siege and confirm the fall of el-Fasher on October 26.

West Asian coverage highlights the wider toll, including tens of thousands killed, 14 million displaced, and the spread of famine and disease nationwide.

Other Western mainstream reporting frames the offensive as potentially the final battle of the Darfur genocide, with around 250,000 people trapped during the siege and tens of thousands recently killed.

The RSF has pledged to investigate abuses, even as verified reports document executions and ransom demands.

Multiple investigations and UN statements describe a pattern of atrocities in and around el‑Fasher.

These include gang rapes near El Fasher University, summary executions, attacks on aid workers and hospitals, and the maternity hospital massacre with at least 460 dead.

Al Jazeera

Western mainstream and Asian outlets detail how these abuses forced humanitarian agencies to halt operations.

Open‑source and satellite‑based inquiries corroborate mass killings and ethnic targeting.

Reports also cite widespread abductions and the killing of hospital patients.

These accounts underscore how medical facilities became sites of violence.

As atrocities mounted, civilians fled on foot through the desert toward nearby towns like Tawila, often dehydrated, malnourished, and separated from family after days without food or water.

“RSF leader Mohamad Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo has promised to investigate reported abuses, but skepticism persists regarding the likelihood that these commitments will be effectively carried out”

Al Jazeera

UNICEF counted more than 6,000 new arrivals in a single week and the WHO warned patients were dying amid critical shortages at El‑Fasher Hospital.

MSF raised alarms about a potentially deadly situation for those still trapped.

West Asian and Western mainstream outlets report tens of thousands escaping: over 60,000 to 65,000 by some accounts, even as communications collapses and road ambushes leave many missing.

Local reporting notes authorities bracing for a new influx within 48 hours as attacks and airstrikes continue across Darfur and Kordofan.

International reaction has included mixed condemnation, limited relief efforts, and disputes about foreign involvement.

The UK announced sanctions against actors on both sides and pledged a new £5 million aid package.

Al Jazeera

The aid funds are designated for emergency food, medical care, and support for survivors of sexual violence.

Similar aid commitments were reiterated by regional and diaspora organizations.

Western mainstream reports highlight U.S. condemnation of the RSF for genocide and broader calls for accountability.

Rights groups are urging enforcement of UN resolutions and targeted sanctions on RSF leaders and their alleged supporters.

Accusations have emerged that the UAE supplied arms to the RSF, which the Emirati government firmly denies.

Leaked reports claim weapons routes connected to the gold trade may be involved.

The fall of el-Fasher cements a de facto partition in the region.

“Following the Rapid Support Forces' (RSF) recent capture of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, a large influx of displaced people is expected within 48 hours”

Al-Jazeera Net

Several outlets note that the RSF now controls all five Darfur state capitals while the army holds Khartoum and other regions.

Al-Jazeera Net

This situation raises fears of fragmentation within the country.

There is widespread evidence of ethnically targeted violence, including mass graves, executions, and killings of non-Arab indigenous groups such as the Fur, Zaghawa, Berti, and Masalit.

This evidence is supported by satellite imagery and survivor testimony.

Investigations by Western mainstream and tabloid media, alongside West Asian and other sources, describe systematic attacks on civilians, hospitals, and aid workers.

These attacks have been documented by independent imagery teams and UN partners.

Some coverage emphasizes that violations by both sides are currently under investigation.