At least 63 died of starvation in Sudan’s besieged city of El-Fasher

At least 63 people, the majority being women and children, died of starvation within a week in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher between August 3 and 10, the Middle East Monitor reported on August 11.

The information came from a local health official’s report on AFP, who requested anonymity due to security concerns. According to the official’s report, the said toll only includes deaths recorded in hospitals, with many more believed to have gone unreported.

The deaths come as humanitarian agencies express concern about the worsening conditions across Sudan. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently warned over the rising number of casualties from starvation and illness in multiple regions.

In East Darfur, local sources report that the Lagawa displacement camp faces severe food shortages, while doctors in the area say that continued fighting has blocked aid deliveries.

In El-Fasher, conditions are rapidly deteriorating, as community-run kitchens have shut down due to food shortages, with some residents eating animal feed in order to survive, as reported by the UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.

The UN deputy spokesperson added that UN humanitarian partners have scaled up their response to the cholera outbreak in the Tawila locality. However, needs remain urgent as resources are scarce.

The city of El-Fasher has been under siege for months as Sudan’s conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces continues. The fighting, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left large swathes of the country cut off from regular food and medical aid.

Humanitarian groups warn that without a ceasefire and immediate access to humanitarian aid, the death toll from starvation in Darfur could climb sharply in the coming weeks.

Middle East Monitor, Maghrebi.org