Dire Conditions in Tawila Camps After Mass Flight From El Fasher

Dire Conditions in Tawila Camps After Mass Flight From El Fasher
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After witnessing the deaths of close relatives during heavy bombardment in El Fasher, a resident fled on foot toward Tawila, 60 kilometres away, a journey he described as marked by torture, beatings, robbery and hunger — according to a report by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

He and others who fled said they encountered bodies along the road, buried family members who collapsed from exhaustion, and took in orphaned children escaping the violence. Upon reaching Tawila, many families discovered alarming shortages of food, water, shelter and sanitation.

According to MSF, survivors arriving in Tawila describe mass killings, detentions, kidnappings for ransom and other brutalities committed in El Fasher and along escape routes. Many fear for loved ones who are still trapped or missing.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of El Fasher on Oct. 26, the last major Darfur city previously held by the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied groups. Humanitarian conditions have deteriorated sharply since then. The Norwegian Refugee Council registered about 10,000 new arrivals in Tawila following the takeover, but this represents a small fraction of the estimated 260,000 civilians who were believed to remain in El Fasher in late summer.

MSF medical staff in Tawila said early arrivals were mostly women and children suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. Later, more men reached the area with gunshot wounds, infected injuries and signs of trauma after walking for days while hiding from attacks.

International aid organizations have been unable to access El Fasher since it fell to the RSF. MSF teams who visited surrounding towns and displacement routes reported seeing only small numbers of new arrivals elsewhere, fueling fears that many civilians inside the city were killed, remain trapped, or are being detained.

Tawila’s camps, already hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people from earlier violence, are stretched beyond capacity. Residents sleep under makeshift shelters and rely on limited food distributions. Water access averages just 1.5 litres per person per day — far below humanitarian standards. With the cold season approaching, the lack of clothing, blankets and sanitation raises further concerns about disease outbreaks.

MSF has expanded emergency medical care in Tawila, increasing trauma beds and conducting around 20 surgeries daily. Teams are also providing mental health support and installing water and sanitation facilities but warn needs remain overwhelming.

MSF is urging armed groups to allow civilians safe passage out of El Fasher and to grant humanitarian access to areas where survivors are believed to be trapped. The organization also appealed for greater international support to address mounting health, protection and basic survival needs in North Darfur.