Displaced families who fled el-Fasher face dire conditions with no blankets, food shortages, and few medical supplies.
By Faisal Ali
(Al Jazeera) – Montaha Omer Mustafa, 18, was among many people who managed to get out of el-Fasher before the city’s seizure by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, but only after paying for passage and going days on foot with little water, moving through villages and scrubland.
As fighting closed in on the last big city held by the government-aligned Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in North Darfur state, tens of thousands of residents fled westwards, abandoning homes, possessions, and even family members.
El-Fasher almost emptied in a matter of days in October.
“Armed men stopped us and stole everything of value, gold, cash and food,” Mustafa told Al Jazeera from the Tawila refugee camp, some 50km (30 miles) west of el-Fasher.
Somewhere along the road – amid thirst, fear and the rush of thousands moving at once – her brother disappeared. They searched, then had to keep going.
There was no choice, she said, and she remains unsure of his fate.
Three Sudanese refugees narrated to Al Jazeera about their escape from el-Fasher, making a journey from a city which was under bombardment and siege to the Tawila refugee camp, where the sudden arrival of thousands has pushed already scarce resources to the brink.
