OCHA warns that any potential assault on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State in Sudan, would have a devastating impact on the 800,000 civilians in the city.
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| Civilians trapped in El Fasher, Sudan due to unrest in the country. Photo: @UNReliefChief |
Escalating tensions and clashes over the last two weeks have already resulted in the displacement of 40,000 people, as well as a number of civilian casualties.
Internally displaced people are particularly at risk, including those in Zamzam camp, where there have been alarming reports of acute hunger and malnutrition in recent months.
The security situation has effectively cut off humanitarian access to El Fasher. The city also serves as an important point to reach other parts of Darfur, including for aid shipments through the Tine crossing from Chad and via a northern route from Port Sudan. Currently, more than a dozen trucks with lifesaving supplies for 122,000 people are stranded in Ad Dabbah in neighbouring Northern State, as they cannot move onward to El Fasher due to insecurity and lack of guarantees for safe passage.
It is also imperative that the parties allow safe passage for civilians to leave El Fasher for safer areas.
unocha.org
