El-Fasher, the last army-held city in Darfur, has been under siege since May 2024. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have surrounded the city, cutting off more than 260,000 people. With no food, water, or safety, many are risking the 70-kilometre journey to Tawila. Survivors say the path is littered with bodies of those who never made it.
Drinking rainwater to survive
Nazer Muhana Ali, 20, escaped with his mother, brother, and sisters after his father was killed in a drone strike. They had nothing to eat but ombaz a bitter husk meant for animals. “We drank rainwater while walking,” he said. Along the way, RSF fighters robbed and beat them. After four days, they reached Tawila, exhausted and hungry.
Fleeing with broken bones
Adel Ismail Ahmed, 24, was injured when a shell hit his home in Abu Shouk camp. His brother was also badly wounded. With no money for food or treatment, they fled at night. “We hid under trees and walked for days,” he said. They finally reached Tawila, where doctors cleaned their wounds. Ahmed is now waiting for surgery.
Beaten and accused
For 28-year-old Mohamed Siddig, the escape was just as painful. RSF fighters accused him of being with the army. “They beat us with sticks until I could not move my hand,” he said. He eventually ran away and reached Tawila. “The beating was bad, but hunger was worse. We lived on ombaz.”
A desperate need for help
In Tawila, survivors feel safer but face new struggles. Shelter, food, and medical aid are in short supply. More families arrive every day, escaping bombardment and hunger in El-Fasher. Their stories reveal the harsh reality of Darfur’s civilians—caught between two warring sides, yet still clinging to hope.
