Approximately 200,000 civilians are currently unaccounted for in El Fasher, Sudan. These individuals reportedly fled the besieged city but have not reached secure locations. Only a small fraction, numbering a few thousand, have made it to humanitarian aid centers, such as those operated by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

Their whereabouts remain unknown, raising serious concerns for their survival. This lack of information demands global attention and action.

This situation is not merely hypothetical. Reports from families who managed to escape inform IRC staff, numbering 1,000 nationwide, of deceased individuals found along escape routes, children separated from their parents, and deliberate assaults on non-combatants. Aid workers have corroborated distressing accounts: unescorted children arriving traumatized, isolated, and severely undernourished. Given that safe passage routes are either obstructed or compromised, the IRC and its partners are diligently working to aid survivors. However, a profound concern persists regarding the fate of those who did not manage to escape.

Nearly two decades after Darfur was the focal point of one of the 21st century’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, the area is again in the throes of a severe crisis. Violence across Sudan resumed in April 2023, forcing over 12 million people from their homes and creating widespread instability. And today, the humanitarian emergency deepens in Sudan as El Fasher faces intense violence.  

El Fasher represents more than just a humanitarian crisis; it symbolizes the wider breakdown of international diplomatic efforts since World War II. Sudan exemplifies what the IRC terms the “new world disorder”—a conflict supported by an expanding group of regional and global adversaries, fueled by transactional diplomatic approaches and financial motives, and perpetuated by a lack of accountability. Essential humanitarian standards are being disregarded, with ordinary citizens bearing the consequences.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are contending for territorial control and, significantly, for economic assets that generate both income and strategic advantage. External powers are directly or indirectly financing this conflict to further their own interests. As competing administrations arise and the nation disintegrates, humanitarian aid access has been manipulated as a weapon, and aid workers are being killed without repercussions. Sudan has devolved into a state where non-combatants are targeted rather than assisted.

And now a critical hunger crisis is unfolding. Recent statistics verify critical levels of hunger throughout Darfur. Approximately 400,000 individuals are experiencing starvation, classified as Phase 5 by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. In addition, some 6.3 million people are at emergency hunger levels (Phase 4), with many escaping El Fasher already presenting symptoms of malnutrition. Unaccompanied children are particularly susceptible, and thousands have been separated from their relatives. Despite this, the global aid effort remains disjointed and alarmingly delayed.

Last year, the Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and complete, swift, and secure humanitarian access. However, these demands have not been met. Verbal commitments have not resulted in increased safety. The 200,000 people unaccounted for in El Fasher serve as a stark indicator of this systemic failure.

How to address the crisis in Sudan

Immediate action is required; we cannot afford to await diplomatic agreement while individuals face starvation or death. Urgent steps must be taken now. 

Firstly, safe corridors are essential. Civilians must be granted permission to evacuate El Fasher free from the threat of assault, coercion, or compulsory enlistment. This represents a fundamental tenet of international law and the most pressing requirement on the ground.

Secondly, a comprehensive humanitarian intervention is imperative. This necessitates unrestricted access to all those requiring aid, regardless of their location, which includes bolstering local aid organizations and ensuring the UN possesses the authority and funding—the humanitarian appeal for Sudan is presently under 30% funded—to expand its operations. 

Thirdly, sustained diplomatic engagement is crucial. The United States, collaborating with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE as part of the “Quad” group, has achieved some advancements. A suggested three-month humanitarian ceasefire, followed by a credible nine-month political initiative, offers a vital opportunity. However, this strategy will be ineffective unless civilians receive immediate protection and access is no longer employed as a negotiation tool.

Fourthly, halting the arms supply is critical. Numerous regional entities are exacerbating this conflict by providing weaponry to both factions. The Quad should at minimum open discussions regarding arms transfers and leverage its influence to diminish motivations for ongoing violence. Every missing family in El Fasher is a consequence of a supply chain that enables these atrocities.

The situation in Sudan is expected to have repercussions extending well beyond its national boundaries. Population displacement is already affecting Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Food insecurity is projected to increase across the broader region. Furthermore, there is a risk that armed groups worldwide will receive a clear message: that civilian casualties can occur without accountability if international attention wanes.

Nevertheless, global attention is focused on this crisis. We observe children reaching Tawila separated from their mothers. We receive reports from IRC personnel who are risking their lives to provide assistance. We recall the names of locations where similar atrocities have previously occurred. And we understand the consequences of inaction.

Sudan presents a critical test: of our commitment to humanitarian principles and our diplomatic determination. Time is of the essence, as the lives of hundreds of thousands are at stake.

We cannot afford to fail them—once more.