Sudan's El Fasher: A Modern-Day Darfur, Thousands Displaced Amidst Ongoing Siege and Violence

Critical infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, under attack
El Fasher, Sudan is under siege between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
Hundreds of civilians killed, tens of thousands displaced
International community urged to act swiftly to prevent further harm and protect civilians
Thousands of houses destroyed by fire, some through arson
UN Security Council demands end to siege and expresses concern over ethnically motivated violence
Use of explosive weapons in populated areas results in indiscriminate attacks
Sudan's El Fasher: A Modern-Day Darfur, Thousands Displaced Amidst Ongoing Siege and Violence

In the heart of Sudan, the city of El Fasher in North Darfur has become a battleground between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The ongoing conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of civilians killed and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes. The situation is reminiscent of the brutal Darfur war that took place in the late 1990s, leaving an indelible mark on Sudan's history.

El Fasher was once a relatively safe haven for over 1.5 million people, including approximately 800,000 internally displaced persons. However, since mid-April 2024, the city has been under siege as both warring parties engage in heavy fighting around the Abu Shouk internally displaced people's camp in northwestern El Fasher.

The use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas by both SAF and RSF has resulted in indiscriminate attacks, violating the laws of war. Thousands of houses have been destroyed by fire, notably through arson. The destruction extends beyond residential areas as critical infrastructure, especially healthcare facilities, is also under attack.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution (2736) demanding an end to the siege and expressing grave concern over ethnically motivated violence in El Fasher. The African Union (AU) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are urging governments to support their investigations into apparent war crimes and other atrocities in Darfur.

The humanitarian situation is dire, with thousands of civilians facing starvation as aid supplies have been severely restricted. Displaced camps in and around El Fasher house about 500,000 people, some for decades. The ongoing conflict threatens to exacerbate the already precarious conditions.

The RSF has been documented systematically razing thousands of homes and demeaning treatment of captives. A senior RSF commander linked to atrocities was recently killed in combat. Growing numbers of women report sexual assault during their journey away from the conflict.

The international community must act swiftly to prevent further harm and ensure that civilians are protected from the violence and destruction.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Are there any ongoing peace negotiations between SAF and RSF?
  • What is the current status of the Abu Shouk internally displaced people's camp?

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

More than a million threatened in Sudan city under siege by paramilitary forces

PBS NewsHour Tuesday, 18 June 2024 22:40
  • Unique Points
    • El Fasher was home to over 800,000 internally displaced people before it came under siege by rebel paramilitaries.
    • Approximately 200 football fields worth of damage to civilian infrastructure was recorded in one-nine day period alone.
  • Accuracy
    • Over 400,000 Sudanese are at risk of slipping into catastrophic hunger and every day that funding is delayed puts more lives at risk.
    • El Fasher has been a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of people who fled RSF, but there may be an ethnic cleansing or widespread violence if RSF takes the city.
    • Gender-based violence, including rape, has been unprecedented in this war with most reported cases committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

A Massacre Threatens Darfur — Again

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Lauren Leatherby, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 09:01
  • Unique Points
    • A video shows a neighborhood on fire in El Fasher, Sudan, as fighters use scorched-earth tactics similar to those from two decades ago.
    • The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), successors to the notorious Janjaweed militias, are encircling the city and have been responsible for burning thousands of homes and forcing tens of thousands to flee.
    • Since RSF seized control of parts of El Fasher, over 20,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
    • Aid supplies to El Fasher have been severely restricted, with only around 22 trucks reaching the city in the past three months.
    • Displaced camps in and around El Fasher house about 500,000 people, some for decades. Now famine threatens these camps as well.
    • The RSF has been documented systematically razing thousands of homes and demeaning treatment of captives. A senior RSF commander linked to atrocities was recently killed in combat.
    • Growing numbers of women report sexual assault during their journey away from the conflict.
  • Accuracy
    • Approximately 200 football fields worth of damage to civilian infrastructure was recorded in one-nine day period alone.
    • El Fasher's sole hospital that could perform surgeries has been looted and shut down.
    • Thousands of houses have been destroyed by fire, notably by arson.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The authors focus on the destruction caused by the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) in El Fasher, while omitting any mention of the military's actions or civilian casualties inflicted by both sides in the conflict. They also use emotive language to describe the situation, such as 'massacre,' 'scorched-earth tactics,' and 'humanitarian crisis.'
    • A massacre threatens Darfur – Again
    • Videos show R.S.F. fighters storming a major hospital and stealing an ambulance.
    • Yet a New York Times examination of satellite imagery and video from El Fasher make one thing clear: The assault is intensifying.
    • Fighters battling Sudan’s military for control of the country have encircled the city.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The article contains several instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The authors use phrases such as 'massacre', 'scorched-earth tactics', and 'on the brink of another catastrophe' to evoke strong emotions in the reader. They also quote Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American ambassador to the UN, stating that El Fasher is 'on the precipice of a large-scale massacre'. This appeal to authority adds weight to their argument but does not provide any new information or evidence. Additionally, there are no explicit logical fallacies identified in the article.
    • ]The city of El Fasher, home to 1.8 million people, is now at the center of global alarm.[
    • Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American ambassador to the U.N., warned that El Fasher was 'on the precipice of a large-scale massacre.'
  • Bias (75%)
    The article demonstrates a clear bias against the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) by repeatedly using language that depicts them as perpetrators of violence and atrocities without providing any counter-evidence or context from their perspective. The authors also use loaded terms such as 'scorched-earth tactics' and 'massacre' to describe the situation, which is not an objective assessment. Furthermore, the article quotes sources that are critical of the R.S.F., but does not provide any balance by quoting sources that may have a different perspective.
    • As the violence spreads, aid workers say civilians are fleeing west and to other parts of Darfur.
      • fighters have torched thousands of homes and forced tens of thousands to flee.
        • The assault is intensifying.
          • Videos show R.S.F. fighters storming a major hospital and stealing an ambulance.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          93%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Martha Pobee (DPPA/DPO) on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan - Security Council, 9659th meeting

          United Nations Web TV Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:38
          • Unique Points
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Accuracy
            • Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee briefed the Security Council on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan.
            • El Fasher is at the center of global alarm as it faces potential fall to massacre.
            • Approximately 200 football fields worth of damage to civilian infrastructure was recorded in one-nine day period alone.
            • The fighting between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in catastrophic damage to civilian infrastructure in El Fasher.
            • Over 400,000 Sudanese are at risk of slipping into catastrophic hunger and every day that funding is delayed puts more lives at risk.
            • Since RSF seized control of parts of El Fasher, over 20,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
            • Thousands of houses have been destroyed by fire, notably by arson, since the fighting began in April.
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          95%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Sudan: Unlawful Attacks on Civilians, Infrastructure

          Human Rights Watch Wednesday, 19 June 2024 13:00
          • Unique Points
            • Sudan's warring parties have attacked populated areas in North Darfur’s El Fasher, killing hundreds of civilians and forcing tens of thousands to flee.
            • Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have engaged in heavy fighting around the Abu Shouk internally displaced people’s camp in northwestern El Fasher.
            • Both warring parties have used explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas, resulting in indiscriminate attacks that violate the laws of war.
            • Thousands of houses have been destroyed by fire, notably by arson, since the fighting began in April.
          • Accuracy
            • Thousands of houses have been destroyed by fire, notably by arson, since the fighting began in April.
            • Approximately 200 football fields worth of damage to civilian infrastructure was recorded in one-nine day period alone.
            • Over 20,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (85%)
            The article from Human Rights Watch provides direct evidence of unlawful attacks on civilians and infrastructure in North Darfur, including the targeting of hospitals and civilian areas with explosive weapons. The article also reports on the lack of action from the UN and AU to protect civilians in the area, as well as potential war crimes committed by Sudan's warring parties. These findings indicate a strong bias towards highlighting human rights abuses and calling for international intervention to protect civilians in Darfur.
            • Attacks directed at a medical facility, which is a civilian target, constitute a war crime.
              • Since mid-May, Sudan’s warring parties have pounded populated areas of El Fasher with no apparent regard for the civilians there...
                • The United Nations secretary-general should act on the UN Security Council’s resolution 2736 and urgently work with the African Union to deploy a civilian protection mission...
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication

                96%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Sudan siege bears hallmarks of brutal Darfur war

                Deutsche Welle News Site Review by AI - Bias, Contradictions, Deceptiveness Analysis (English Edition) Jennifer Holleis Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:42
                • Unique Points
                  • The struggle to survive Sudan’s civil war has taken its toll on Taj-Alseer Ahamed.
                  • El Fasher had turned into a relatively safe place for some 1.5 million people, including 800,000 internally displaced persons. Fighting in El Fasher has killed at least 226 people and around 130,000 people have fled the city since April. Mohammad Mousa lost his house through attacks by the Rapid Support Forces that are at war with the Sudanese Armed Forces. Mohamed Osman reports relentless shelling and airstrikes, burning of residential areas, and attacks that have significantly damaged infrastructure critical to the population, especially healthcare. The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an end to the siege and expressing grave concern over ethnically motivated violence in El Fasher. Fighting is ongoing in El Fasher and there is a lack of water, food, and humanitarian aid. The situation is best described as scorched earth strategy. The destruction of important agricultural goods, razing villages, systematic killing of non-Arab minorities, widespread sexual violence against women are tactics used to ensure that even when the enemy retreats, they have nothing to gain.
                • Accuracy
                  • The war in Sudan has killed around 16,000 people and injured 33,000. It has displaced over 9 million people and left some 5 million on the brink of famine.
                  • El Fasher had turned into a relatively safe place for some 1.5 million people, including 800,000 internally displaced persons.
                  • Fighting in El Fasher has killed at least 226 people and around 130,000 people have fled the city since April.
                  • The destruction of important agricultural goods, razing villages, systematic killing of non-Arab minorities, widespread sexual violence against women are tactics used to ensure that even when the enemy retreats, they have nothing to gain.
                • Deception (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Fallacies (85%)
                  The article contains several instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It uses emotive language such as 'scorched earth strategy', 'brutal attacks', and 'largest humanitarian crisis on the face of the planet' to evoke strong emotions in readers. The author also quotes Mohammad Mousa, an internally displaced Sudanese refugee, and Hamid Adam, a resident of El Fasher, to provide firsthand accounts of the situation. Additionally, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations is quoted expressing her concern over the crisis. However, no formal fallacies are present in the article.
                  • The struggle to survive Sudan's civil war has taken its toll on Taj-Alseer Ahamed...'],
                • Bias (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication