The relentless assault and shelling in Sudan’s El Fasher strain both children and adults to their survival limits.

Presently in North Darfur, particularly around El Fasher, about 2.8 million souls are cornered with scant chances of retreat or aid, stated a collection of humanitarian bodies in Sudan. A staggering 500,000 refugees at Zamzam camp near El Fasher are battling severe hunger.

Humanitarian workers cite distressing scenes in El Fasher, where children are grappling with unthinkable horrors impacting their well-being. Some kids, boys and girls alike, find themselves resorting to desperate measures like joining combatants or even marrying them just to secure food. Others are reduced to foraging leaves for sustenance.

These distressing tales of relentless violence, scarce food, and essential supplies paint a grim picture after 18 months of brutal conflict in Sudan, displacing 11.3 million individuals. Such accounts emerge under a veil of anonymity, illustrating the grim reality.

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Jamal*, 45, in operations with an international NGO in El Fasher, shared: “The enormity of despair overwhelms language, and keeps worsening. Every day, I witness lifeless bodies and children fleeing without kin or possessions.

“Battles rage at our doorsteps and in the marketplace, amidst ceaseless explosions and gunfire.

“The plight of women is harrowing, facing abductions and assault en route to markets. Disturbingly, young girls face forced unions with fighters, while others engage in survival sex for basics like food and water.

“Hunger grips everyone. People munch on leaves from trees. Many youths join combat lines just to quench hunger.

“Seizing fleeting moments of peace—three or four hours without gunfire—we mobilize to deliver water where it’s desperately needed.

“Our dread is palpable—a fear of looming mass deaths unless the world takes heed.”

Mohamad*, 52, working in administration with another international entity, expressed: “In May, I lost four neighbors brutally killed inside their homes. Many residences were incinerated and plundered. The fortunate few who escaped now languish in dire conditions, devoid of any humanitarian aid.

“Leaving our homes is incrementally impossible due to roadblocks, floods, or the menace of armed factions.

“The suffocating siege has devastated us. Our children, drive by hunger, resort to begging. My family is splintered, our contact severed, a reunion uncertain.”

Omar*, 42, delving into child protection with an NGO, recounted: “Children confide in me about missing parents and destroyed homes. They drift into sleep hungry, sometimes subsisting on a single meal. Many display symptoms of trauma—insomnia, anxiety, diminished appetite.

“The surrounding chaos—bombs, explosions, and gunfire—is relentless. Simple acts, like visiting the market or mosque, are unthinkable. Safety remains but a dream.”

Abdul*, 36, also in child protection, related: “Last September, an attack devastated my uncle’s home. My cousin and the neighbor’s lad perished, my aunt grievously injured. The loss grates on my family—we’ve lost five members in a day.

“Despite the hardships, I linger in El Fasher with my family, tethered by my elderly parents who endure no travel. Yet, we barely scrape through with two meager meals.”

Majeed*, dedicated to similar work, described: “Recently, five lives were snuffed out in a market attack; two kids lost their legs.

“Children, fraught with anxiety, change visibly—they sleep fitfully, eat poorly, and yearn for peace, for an end to the madness.”

Rifat*, 54, spearheads water and sanitation initiatives: “A horrific sight met my eyes—two children died instantly amid marketplace chaos; five others were injured.

“Voices of children plead for the insanity to halt—they fear for their lives, falling silent, withdrawn.”

Wajih*, delving into education and protection, lamented: “Two days ago, near Zamzam, artillery claimed six street children. A scene seared into my memory.

“Utter despair is rampant—kids recount ghastly scenes affecting their sleep. Our aid barely scratches the surface.”

Amar*, engaged in protection duties, shared: “Just weeks ago, nearby shelling claimed four innocent young lives—and last quarter, a similar tragedy hit closest to my home, taking adult and child lives alike.

“Kids persistently question the war’s end—consumed by unease.”

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El Fasher rapidly deteriorates, becoming an inferno for thousands caught in its turmoil. Recent escalations—their bombings and shellings—endanger 2.8 million across El Fasher and North Darfur. Humanitarian efforts, while earnest, falter in the face of overwhelming need.

Our coalition rallies the world to act with urgency:

• Conflict factions must safeguard civilian sanctuaries like Zamzam camp, ceasing operations that endanger innocents.
• Adherence to humanitarian tenets is critical—protection against civilian targeting and curbing atrocities like starvation or gender violence as tactics of war.
• Humanitarian workers require protection, with unhindered access to deliver timely aid through all viable channels.
• Increased diplomatic fervor should pin pressure on conflicting parties, supporting vital humanitarian roles and condemning any access denial.
• Explicit denunciation of gender-based violence cases, particularly sexual assaults on civilians, is imperative.
• All influential entities must unite to facilitate a comprehensive, lasting ceasefire.

For further details or interview queries, please reach out to:

SIGNED:

• CARE International
• Danish Refugee Council
• GOAL Global
• Norwegian Refugee Council
• Plan International
• Relief International
• Save the Children International
• Solidarites International