United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that the war in Sudan is “spiraling out of control” after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the besieged, famine-hit Darfur city of el-Fasher.

Speaking in Qatar, Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in the two-year conflict, which has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. “Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped by this siege,” he said. “People are dying of malnutrition, disease, and violence.” He also cited credible reports of widespread executions since the RSF entered the city.

The paramilitary group, which had besieged el-Fasher for 18 months, reportedly killed more than 450 people in a hospital and carried out ethnically targeted killings and sexual assaults. While the RSF denies committing atrocities, testimonies from fleeing residents, satellite imagery, and online videos depict a devastating attack.

The war, which began in April 2023, has killed over 40,000 people according to UN figures, displaced more than 14 million, and fueled famine and disease outbreaks across Sudan.

Guterres stressed the need for international pressure to stop the fighting and prevent further arms from reaching Sudan, saying, “We need to create mechanisms of accountability because the crimes being committed are so horrendous.”

Thousands missing, new horrors emerge after RSF captures Sudan’s el-Fasher

Since the RSF takeover, nearly 71,000 people have been displaced from el-Fasher, with thousands reaching the nearest camp in Tawila, 65 kilometers away. Survivors recounted harrowing journeys and violent attacks. Habib Allah Yakoub, 27, said he and his pregnant wife walked for two days after their home was destroyed, while Samiya Ibrahim, 38, described being tortured and separated from her husband by RSF gunmen.

The humanitarian situation remains critical as aid agencies struggle to reach affected populations.

Source: AP