Desperate Escapes: Survivors of the El-Fasher Siege Share Their Stories

Wed Dec 03 2025 05:42:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of the brutal siege of el-Fasher by Rapid Support Forces, survivors recount harrowing tales of escape, loss, and unimaginable violence as they joined the ranks of displaced individuals seeking refuge in grim conditions.

As fighting rages in Sudan, a group of survivors from el-Fasher detail their terrifying experiences of fleeing their homes as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a fierce assault. Their stories unfold amidst escalating violence and humanitarian crises, revealing the anguish of loss, survival, and the desperate search for safety in a war-torn country.

Abdulqadir Abdullah Ali, a 62-year-old man, suffered severe nerve damage during the prolonged siege of el-Fasher, but amid the chaos of gunfire and explosives, he found himself running for his life.

The morning the RSF came, there were bullets everywhere, he recalls. People panicked and ran in all directions, desperate to escape. I felt no pain as fear overtook me; I just ran.

The fall of el-Fasher marks a grim chapter in Sudan's ongoing civil strife, with RSF’s takeover signaling a catastrophic loss of refuge. In the aftermath of this assault, countless individuals have fled, creating a dire humanitarian crisis as they seek shelter in nearby camps.

The BBC visited a displacement camp hundreds of miles away in army-controlled territory, gathering testimonies from those who escaped. The RSF, embroiled in conflict with the regular army since April 2023, continues to face allegations of mass atrocities against civilians, prompting international condemnation and urgent calls to halt the bloodshed.

They shot at the elderly and civilians without mercy, Ali said in recounting his escape, describing harrowing scenes where occupants of cars were targeted, and presumed survivors were driven over by RSF vehicles. The road was littered with bodies, and many were beyond help.

Women and children make up a significant portion of those displaced, enduring not only the trauma of violence but also the stigma of survival. One young woman shared that they had to leave a girl behind at a checkpoint, fearing further abductions. They pressed ahead with their younger siblings after enduring the loss of their grandmother along the journey, leaving them to navigate the perilous landscape alone.

We didn’t realize how far we would have to walk or the dangers that awaited us, she lamented. Compounding their fears are reports of violence against women as fighters exploit the chaos for sexual assault, highlighting the desperate plight of those who survive the journey but not without scars.

Despite the grave circumstances, survivors continue to exhibit resilience. Ali and others in the camp express their desire for stability, yearning simply for the right to live free from fear. While the road ahead remains uncertain, their stories echo the enduring spirit of those devastated by war.