Over 100 Killed in 2 Weeks as Rival Sudanese Groups Battle in North Darfur City

Cairo: More than two weeks of fighting between Sudan’s military and a notorious paramilitary group over a major city in western Darfur region killed at least 123 people, an international aid group said Sunday. fighting in el-Fasher, provincial capital of North Darfur province, also wounded more than 930 people in same period, Doctors without Borders said.

“This is a sign of violent intensity of fighting,” group said. “We urge warring parties to do more to protect civilians.”

Clashes between military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces escalated earlier this month in city, forcing thousands of people to flee ir homes, according to United Nations.

El-Fasher has become center of conflict between military and RSF, which is aided by Arab militias commonly known as janjaweed. city is last stronghold that is still held by military in sprawling Darfur region.

Sudan’s conflict began in April last year when soaring tensions between leers of military and RSF exploded into open fighting in capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in country.

conflict killed more than 14,000 people and wounded thousands more amid reports of widespre sexual violence and or atrocities that rights groups say amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It also pushed country's population to brink of famine. UN food agency warned warring parties earlier this month that re is a serious risk of widespre starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if y don’t allow humanitarian aid into vast western region.

RSF has built up forces in recent months seeking to wres control of el-Fasher. Along with its Arab militia allies, RSF besieged city and launched a major attack on its sourn and eastern parts earlier this month.

clashes renewed on Thursday in Abu Shouk camp for displaced people in Salam neighborhood in city’s norrn part, as well as its sourn western parts, UN’s International Organisation for Migration reported.

On Saturday, a shell hit house of a Doctors Without Borders aid worker close to city’s main market, killing worker, charity said.