The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to worsen as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) press forward with their violent campaign, triggering mass displacement and deepening famine conditions across Darfur and the Kordofan regions. Over the past week alone, more than 70,000 Sudanese civilians have been uprooted from their homes following the RSF’s takeover of the strategic city of el-Fasher in North Darfur. The United Nations is now warning of catastrophic consequences as the violence spreads eastward.

RSF Prepares Assault on El-Obeid Amid Widespread Atrocities

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—commonly known as Hemedti—has now set its sights on the city of el-Obeid, capital of North Kordofan. The group released a video announcing an imminent attack, claiming it has amassed forces in the town of Bara, just 50km (30 miles) northeast of the city. This comes after their brutal military takeover of el-Fasher, which followed an 18-month siege and resulted in widespread killings, torture, and horrific abuses.

The Sudanese Armed Forces currently control el-Obeid, but both sides appear to be preparing for a major confrontation. Reports from conflict zones indicate that civilians are caught in the crossfire, leading to mass evacuations.

Humanitarian Disaster Deepens as Thousands Flee Violence

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 1,200 people fled Bara and Um Rawaba in a single day, with more than 36,000 displaced from North Kordofan since the resurgence of fighting. In South Kordofan, hundreds more have fled from towns like Abassiya and Delami as the situation worsens.

Meanwhile, thousands remain trapped in or around el-Fasher with little to no access to food, water, or medical aid. Eyewitness accounts and video footage shared online show harrowing scenes of bodies strewn along roadsides as civilians continue to flee the violence.

‘Horror Stories’ from Survivors: Mass Killings, Rape, and Torture

Human rights monitors and international aid workers have confirmed widespread reports of severe human rights violations committed by the RSF. Survivors arriving in northern Sudan describe mass executions, sexual violence, abductions, and indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians—including children. One survivor recounted seeing his relatives abducted, while others reported witnessing artillery strikes that left bodies mutilated.

“The streets were full of dead bodies,” Yahya Abdullah, a father of four who fled el-Fasher, told Al Jazeera. His wife was killed in an RSF drone strike, and he described armed fighters shooting civilians indiscriminately. “I heard one of them say, ‘Kill them all.’”

Famine Declared in El-Fasher and Kadugli

On November 3, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine conditions in el-Fasher and Kadugli, two of the hardest-hit regions. It estimates that 375,000 people in Darfur and Kordofan were already facing famine conditions in September, with another 6.3 million experiencing extreme hunger. Without a ceasefire and safe humanitarian access, aid organizations fear more will starve or die from preventable diseases.

The United Nations has expressed grave concern amid the worsening hunger crisis, highlighting that famine may spread to 20 more localities in Sudan if violence continues.

ICC Steps In: War Crimes Investigation Launched

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that it has opened an investigation into potential war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in el-Fasher and the wider Darfur region. The ICC is gathering evidence of ethnic-targeted violence, rape, torture, and attacks on civilians and medical facilities, suggesting a systematic campaign of terror by the RSF.

These atrocities, the ICC noted, form part of a broader pattern of violence that has plagued Sudan’s western regions for decades.