Displacement camps across northern Sudan are swelling as civilians flee el-Fasher, a Darfur city devastated by months of fighting and recently seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Satellite imagery reviewed by humanitarian monitors shows rapid camp expansion as tens of thousands seek refuge from violence, shortages, and the near-total collapse of urban life.

The exodus follows RSF operations in and around el-Fasher in late October, which survivors and the United Nations say included ethnically motivated killings, sexual violence, and arbitrary detentions. UN agencies estimate that 107,000 people have been displaced from el-Fasher and nearby areas since the city fell, accelerating an already catastrophic displacement crisis.

Camps Expanding at Speed

One newly established camp near the town of Qarni, northwest of el-Fasher, expanded by 13,000 square meters between December 14 and December 29, bringing its total footprint to roughly 199,000 square meters, according to satellite analysis. Aid agencies say the pace of growth reflects continuous arrivals rather than a one-off displacement wave.

An even larger camp, el-Afadh, near al-Dabba in Sudan’s Northern State—around 700 kilometers from el-Fasher—now covers at least 500,000 square meters. Satellite data shows the site expanded by 370,000 square meters since November 19, making it one of the fastest-growing displacement sites in the country.

“A Crime Scene”

When UN aid workers accessed el-Fasher for the first time since its capture, they described a city that was largely empty and severely damaged. Large sections were destroyed, sanitation systems had collapsed, and remaining residents were living without reliable water or medical care. One senior UN official said el-Fasher bore the hallmarks of a “crime scene,” with little clarity on how many civilians remained behind.

El-Fasher had been the last major stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur before falling to the RSF, whose origins trace back to the Janjaweed militias accused of genocide during the 2000s Darfur conflict.

A Worsening National Emergency

Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023, has now killed more than 100,000 people and displaced over 14 million, including 4.3 million who have fled to neighboring countries. The UN has warned that the conflict has triggered famine in several regions, describing Sudan as the site of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Aid workers in the camps report acute shortages of food, clean water, shelter, and medical supplies, as traumatized families continue to arrive. UN officials warn that without a ceasefire—particularly around flashpoints such as Kadugli in South Kordofan—the scale of violence and displacement seen in el-Fasher could be repeated elsewhere.