Sudan: Sudan War - Yale Report Reveals El Fasher's Devastation a Year After RSF Takeover

What the report says

A Yale University Humanitarian Research Lab report, cited by Dabanga and published to mark a year since the events in El Fasher, says Sudan’s North Darfur capital has been left almost empty after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized it in late October 2025. The satellite-based analysis describes activity concentrated in a small area of about five square kilometres, with widespread damage to markets, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. Before the siege began in April 2024, the city and nearby displacement camps were said to have held an estimated one to two million people.

According to the report, imagery from early 2026 shows increased vegetation growth consistent with the decline of ordinary human and vehicle activity. Researchers said eight of nine major markets showed no visible signs of use, while the remaining market in the First Degree neighbourhood appeared to function as the main hub for RSF forces and the remaining population. The study also says 19 health facilities showed no signs of normal operation, and that excavation and burning sites at several hospitals raised concerns about possible destruction or concealment of human remains.

The report further says a 75-kilometre trench and earth barrier around the city appears intended to limit civilian movement and block aid, worsening famine conditions. It also cites damage to water infrastructure and argues that claims of a return to normal life are not supported by the imagery. Yale researchers called for an international investigation and access for the International Criminal Court and human rights groups, saying evidence could be lost if not documented quickly.