El-Fasher Under Siege: The Construction of a Deadly Barrier

Mon Sep 15 2025 15:06:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An extensive earthen wall rising around the besieged city of el-Fasher in Sudan is trapping residents inside, according to analysis by Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab. The wall has intensified the humanitarian crisis, as assaults on civilians escalate amidst ongoing conflict.

Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab reports the construction of a lengthy earthen wall around el-Fasher, Sudan, aimed at confining civilians. The RSF paramilitary forces have intensified their attacks as humanitarian access dwindles. Current conditions reveal a dire landscape for the estimated 300,000 residents still trapped within the city's confines.

An extensive earthen wall is being built around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher, trapping residents inside, according to research from Yale University.

Satellite images from the university's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) have revealed over 31 kilometers of berms constructed since May, particularly in areas occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Under siege for over a year, el-Fasher remains the final stronghold in Darfur for Sudan's army, which has been fighting the RSF since April 2023. Reports from the Sudan Doctors Network indicate an intensifying offensive by the RSF, which is allegedly targeting civilians.

Yesterday, shelling in a civilian area killed almost 24 people, injuring 55 others, among them five women, stated Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan, emphasizing that the assaults on marketplaces and residential neighborhoods were calculated and brutal.

Defensive berms have been utilized by both factions, but the HRL's analysis suggest the RSF is establishing a lethal perimeter around el-Fasher, transforming it into a 'kill box'. Civilians caught within the city are struggling to escape, facing targeted killings if they attempt to flee.

The wall complicates the critical delivery of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid, with organizations unable to access the area for months. Residents are suffering from relentless bombardment, food scarcity, and medical crises.

Historically marginalized non-Arab ethnic groups are reportedly being targeted by the RSF and allied militias, raising the specter of ethnic cleansing. Despite the dire absence of humanitarian support, civilians remain vulnerable and exposed to constant threat.

Dr. Hassan highlighted the plight of those still in el-Fasher; escape is a death sentence, and yet remaining is a slow death. We find ourselves trapped with no hope.

This deteriorating situation is compounded by the ongoing construction of the wall, framed as a strategic military offensive by the RSF, aimed at neutralizing the government forces in the city, which could facilitate full RSF control over Western Darfur.

The implications of such control could lead to a deepening division within Sudan as both sides assert competing administrations. With recent satellite sightings confirming ongoing construction, the international community faces urgent calls for intervention to protect the civilians of el-Fasher.