May Allah Protect the Innocent in el-Fasher - Report of Mass Graves and Desperate Need
As-salamu alaykum. A researcher from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab says that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) appear to be digging mass graves and gathering bodies across el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, after their takeover last month.
Nathaniel Raymond told reporters that the RSF “have begun to dig mass graves and to collect bodies throughout the city” and that they seem to be trying to “clean up the massacre.” The RSF took control of el-Fasher on October 26 following the withdrawal of the Sudanese Armed Forces. Since then, more than 70,000 people have fled the area, and witnesses and rights groups report summary executions, sexual violence, and mass killings of civilians.
Yale’s lab published findings on October 28 showing evidence consistent with mass killings, including satellite images that suggested pools of blood in places hit by violence. United Nations officials warn that thousands remain trapped in the city without reliable access to food, water, or medical care. A senior UNHCR official said ongoing insecurity prevents life-saving aid from reaching those who are stuck.
A Sudanese journalist noted that el-Fasher had already suffered under an 18-month siege before the RSF’s full takeover: aid was blocked and healthcare services were largely nonfunctional. Now the situation for people still inside is even worse.
The RSF and allied groups have denied responsibility and tried to shift blame, while their leader has promised an investigation. Experts say any credible inquiry must allow independent access: the RSF should withdraw from the city and permit UN, Red Cross, and humanitarian teams to enter and assess conditions house to house. Letting the same forces accused of abuses investigate themselves will not suffice.
According to analysts, deaths in a short period in el-Fasher may rival high tolls seen in other conflicts; in any case, thousands urgently need emergency assistance. May Allah grant patience to the victims, protect the innocent, and inspire those with power to allow humanitarian relief and impartial investigations.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news