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A Catastrophic Human Crisis in Sudan
- vincent5091
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
November 18, 2025
Project Expedite Justice (PEJ) stands in solidarity with the victims and survivors of atrocities in El Fasher and across Sudan.
For nearly three decades, Sudan endured the repressive rule of Omar al-Bashir. Three years before his fall, in 2016, PEJ began collaborating with Sudanese partners to strengthen documentation and evidence collection processes, promote legal accountability, and protect human rights defenders.
Today, Sudan, Africa's third-largest country and home to roughly 50 million people, remains caught in a brutal and protracted war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The outbreak of full-scale war in April 2023 has pushed the Sudanese population into unimaginable suffering. An estimated 30 million people, or 60% of the population [1], now require humanitarian assistance. Half of the country faces acute food insecurity [2]. Millions are on the brink of famine [3]. Health systems have collapsed, and clean water and education remain inaccessible for tens of millions [4].
In late October 2025, PEJ's partners in Darfur began sending desperate messages as El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, fell under the control of the RSF after an 18-month siege [5]. Reporting from the city raised alarms as appalling evidence of mass atrocities, unlawful killings, and sexual violence continued to emerge [6]. These accounts stoked fears of the re-emergence of a horrifying cycle of genocidal violence in Darfur.
One of our partners, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared the following words:
It's hard to say I am fine while the RSF pointed a gun at my head in June 2023, questioning me. It's hard to say I am fine while many people I know have lost their lives in the past few days in El Fashir. It's hard to say I am fine while many of my family members have become refugees or IDPs. It's hard to say I am fine while the world remains silent about the killings in Darfur. It's hard to say I am fine when so many people are in desperate need of my support, while my hands are tied. I cannot say I am fine while authorities linked to the RSF continue to threaten me. I cannot say I am fine when I have to hide my tears – closing the doors and windows so no one can hear or see me – mourning quietly for those who have been killed.
The situation is dire. Verified evidence from videos, satellite images, and oral testimonies confirms mass killings, extrajudicial executions, sexual violence, including gang rapes, and attacks on medical facilities and shelters. RSF fighters have brazenly documented and shared footage of these crimes online, underscoring a deep sense of impunity, and have abducted and detained documenters who stayed behind [7]. One incident at the Saudi Maternity Hospital alone resulted in over 460 deaths [8]. Estimates for total fatalities in the city range from 1,500 to over 2,000, with some sources suggesting higher figures [9]. RSF forces have blocked most humanitarian access, leading to severe shortages and worsening conditions, including outbreaks of cholera and malnutrition reminiscent of famine. Aid workers face risks, including abduction and attacks [10]. International agencies have issued emergency appeals, but assistance remains sporadic and insufficient.
The UN Security Council and various governments have condemned the violence and expressed grave concern over the risk of escalating atrocities [11]. They have issued calls for unimpeded humanitarian access, protection of civilians, arms embargoes, and targeted sanctions against those implicated in abuses [12]. Diplomatic initiatives have failed to stop the violence or significantly improve accountability or civilian protection on the ground. Humanitarian access remains restricted, and no effective real-time mechanisms exist to prevent abuses.
Please stand with us in support of the people of Sudan. PEJ and our brave partners are committed to assisting the victims of these atrocious crimes while documenting and preserving evidence to pursue justice and ensure that these events are never forgotten. Your support, whether through funding, advocacy, or amplification, can help sustain their courage, protect their work, and ensure that the fight for justice continues across Sudan.
Best regards,
Cynthia Tai
Executive Director, Project Expedite Justice
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