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UK coverage: Sky News.

The United Nations has expressed concern over a potential attack on al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, by paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The city, home to 800,000 people, is already described as ‘seriously suffocated’ and besieged by the RSF. The UN warns that an attack on al Fashir would have devastating consequences for the civilian population, particularly as the area is already on the brink of famine. The conflict in Sudan has left millions in need of humanitarian aid, with thousands killed and displaced.

Earlier on Friday, the United Nations spokesperson stated that the organization is increasingly concerned about a potential imminent attack on the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. El Fasher is the last major city in the Darfur region not under the control of the Rapid Support Forces. Last year, the RSF and their allies seized control of four key cities in Darfur. The fight for control over El Fasher could exacerbate ethnic tensions that have surfaced during the conflict in the area. Senior UN officials warned the Security Council that around 800,000 people in El Fasher are at ‘imminent and severe risk’ with the escalation of violence, potentially unleashing a bloody ethnic conflict throughout Darfur.

The United Nations has stated that nearly 25 million people, or half of Sudan’s population, are in need of assistance, with approximately eight million displaced from their homes. A global food security organization supported by the UN emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent widespread deaths, the collapse of livelihoods, and avoid a catastrophic hunger crisis in Sudan. Since mid-April of last year, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in fierce fighting, resulting in thousands of casualties and millions of displaced individuals.

The spokesperson for the United Nations, Stéphane Dujarric, expressed increasing concern about the escalating tension in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state in Sudan. Reports indicate that the Rapid Support Forces are surrounding the city, indicating a possible imminent attack. The UN has received ‘very disturbing’ reports of a sharp escalation in tension between the armed parties in El Fasher. Ramtan Lamamra, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, is in contact with all parties to calm the situation in the region.

Since the outbreak of the war between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) in April 2023, violence has resurged in the Darfur region. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concern about the escalating violence in El Fasher and its surroundings, where dozens of people have been killed in the past two weeks. At least 43 people, including women and children, have been killed in clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, with the support of militias affiliated with each party, since April 14th.

Civilians in El Fasher are trapped and fear being killed if they attempt to escape. The delivery of commercial goods and humanitarian aid has become very limited due to the fighting, exacerbating the severe shortage of basic supplies. The High Commissioner calls for immediate containment of the escalation in this catastrophic situation and an end to the conflict that has been destroying the country for over a year. Investigation of possible violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law is also urged to ensure the victims’ right to truth, justice, and reparations.

The US Department of State has also warned of a possible ‘imminent’ attack on El Fasher and called on all armed forces in Sudan to immediately cease attacks. El Fasher serves as a hub for humanitarian aid in Darfur, where a quarter of Sudan’s population resides. The city has remained relatively safe from the fighting, but surrounding villages have witnessed confrontations and shelling since mid-April.