The protracted conflict in Sudan has forced hundreds of children to flee the besieged city of El-Fasher, arriving in the town of Tawila in western Darfur without their parents. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported that at least 400 unaccompanied children have reached Tawila since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El-Fasher last month, although the actual number is feared to be significantly higher.
A Desperate Exodus: Children Fleeing El-Fasher
These young refugees endure harrowing journeys, often walking for days through the unforgiving desert, arriving in Tawila "exhausted and deeply distressed," according to the NRC. Many are traumatized by the armed groups they encountered or escaped, while others were separated from their families in the chaos, with parents potentially missing, detained, or killed. A teacher with the NRC's education program in Tawila, Nidaa, recounted how some children were initially unable to speak due to acute trauma, while others suffered from nightmares, vividly describing hiding for hours and traveling at night to evade attacks.
The Fall of El-Fasher and Grave Accusations
The RSF's seizure of El-Fasher, North Darfur's capital, on October 26, concluded an 18-month siege that severely restricted access to essential supplies like food and medicine. The paramilitary group, embroiled in a conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023, faces grave accusations of committing war crimes, including mass killings, kidnappings, and widespread sexual violence during its takeover. While the RSF denies targeting civilians or obstructing aid, the UN human rights chief Volker Turk has condemned these "atrocities" as "the gravest of crimes."
Tawila Overwhelmed: A New Crisis Epicentre
Over 100,000 people have fled El-Fasher since the RSF's takeover, with many seeking safety in neighboring Chad. Tawila, located approximately 60km (37 miles) from El-Fasher, has become a primary refuge. The NRC has registered at least 15,000 new arrivals since October 26, with an average of over 200 children registering daily.
The existing displacement camps in Tawila are now critically overstretched. The Sudanese American Physicians Association estimated in early November that over 650,000 internally displaced people from El-Fasher and other Darfur regions have sought refuge in Tawila. Their report highlighted that nearly three-quarters of these displaced individuals reside in informal settlements lacking adequate infrastructure, and fewer than 10 percent have reliable access to water or latrines. These dire conditions have transformed Tawila into a "stand-alone crisis epicentre."
Mounting Risks: Trafficking and Child Recruitment
A group of UN experts recently issued a stark warning about the deteriorating situation, noting an alarming increase in risks of sexual exploitation and trafficking for Sudanese women and girls. Displaced children are also increasingly vulnerable to recruitment into the escalating conflict. The experts expressed deep concern over "alarming reports of human trafficking" following the RSF's capture of El-Fasher, detailing abductions of women and girls in RSF-controlled areas and heightened risks of sexual violence for women and unaccompanied children. They called for "urgent action to end the human rights violations driving this suffering," emphasizing that families are left without shelter, humanitarian aid, or access to basic services like healthcare and education.