Survivors tell of terrifying escape from Sudan's El-Fasher

NAZER Muhana Ali drank rainwater to stay alive.

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For four days, the 20-year-old trudged through the scrubland west of Sudan's El-Fasher, his family at his side, beaten and robbed along the way.

“It was extremely tough because of hunger and thirst, he said. “We had nothing but ombaz to eat.”

Ombaz, a bitter peanut husk meant for animals, was all that kept them going as they fled Sudan's last army-held city in Darfur.

El-Fasher has been under siege since May 2024, encircled by paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Now, the fighters have launched their deadliest assault yet, trapping 260 000 people inside.

The only escape is a 70km trail west to Tawila, a path littered with the bodies of those who didn’t make it.

We spoke to three survivors - Ali, Ahmed and Siddig - who made it out alive.

Originally from Al-Salam neighbourhood, Ali and his family had been displaced within the city and were sheltering at a school a few kilometres west in Awlad al-Reef district.

Besides hunger, Ali said, “the bombing was so intense”.