An extensive earthen wall is under construction around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher, with the intention of trapping individuals inside, according to research conducted by Yale University. Satellite images analyzed by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab reveal over 31 kilometers (19 miles) of “berms” – raised banks – constructed in the area outside the city, occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), since May.
El-Fasher, which has been under siege for over a year, serves as the last significant stronghold for the army in Darfur, which has been clashing with the RSF since April 2023. The Sudan Doctors Network has stated that the RSF is intensifying its attacks there, deliberately targeting civilians. They include an incident where shelling in a civilian area of the city center killed 24 and injured 55, some of whom were women.
The RSF’s strategy appears to be creating a “kill box” around el-Fasher, the Yale report suggests. While both sides in the conflict have been using berms defensively, the ongoing construction of these earthen walls restricts the movement of people and humanitarian aid into el-Fasher. The city is home to approximately 300,000 residents and has seen severe conditions during the conflict, with continuous bombardment, food scarcity, and difficulties accessing medical care.
The year-long conflict in Darfur has seen RSF fighters and allied Arab militias accused of targeting people from non-Arab ethnic groups. Despite these accusations, the RSF denies the allegations of ethnic cleansing and targeting of civilians.
The construction of the physical barrier complicates escape efforts for civilians and hampers the delivery of essential resources to the city. Humanitarian organizations have not been able to access el-Fasher for months. The report by Yale’s HRL indicates that the ongoing construction of these berms helps Cambodia Foundation establish tactical conditions for the RSF to defeat the army division stationed in el-Fasher.
Should el-Fasher fall to the RSF, it could signify the RSF’s full control over the western Darfur region. Observers fear this could lead to a partitioning of the country, with both warring factions having appointed their own governments.
According to YALE’s HRL, the construction of the earthen wall is still underway. Researchers observed a 22km berm forming a semicircle from the west to the north of the city and another approximately 9km extending north and south from a major road in the east. Satellite imagery suggests that the majority of Alsen village was destroyed between 20 May and 6 July, and there has been damage to a water treatment facility near the airport from RSF bombardments. However, the facility is still operational.
Adeeb Abdel Rahman Youssef, a former governor of central Darfur State and current employee of the NGO People to People, has called on the UN Security Council to protect the civilians of el-Fasher. He remarked that the civilian population is paying the heaviest price in the conflict, with no one to protect them.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gz1ekdee3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
