Around 350 Families Trek 50 km to Escape Sudan’s El Fasher Siege, Says UN
Ethiomonitor -Addis Ababa
October 22, 2025
Approximately 350 families have completed a grueling 50-kilometer trek over four days to flee the besieged Sudanese city of El Fasher, arriving in the town of Tawila in dire conditions, according to a report from the United Nations.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the group, primarily consisting of women, children, and elderly individuals—some of whom were injured during the journey—joined a larger population of over 600,000 displaced individuals from El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, now seeking refuge in Tawila.
OCHA noted that dozens of young men who fled with the group remain missing, as escalating violence exacerbates the already devastating humanitarian crisis in North Darfur. The United Nations and its partners are working to enhance their response efforts where access permits.
“The UN and its humanitarian partners have provided food, water, and basic medical care to the new arrivals, but the needs far exceed available resources,” the office stated. “Many displaced families lack shelter, adequate food, or safe water. OCHA is coordinating with authorities, donors, and partners to mobilize additional capacity, resources, and support.”itarian organizations have reported that repeated attacks continue to threaten civilians in El Fasher. Local sources indicated that heavy shelling struck central areas of the city on Monday, endangering thousands in one of its most densely populated regions.
OCHA further revealed that local authorities reported over 109,000 people displaced across 127 sites in the state capital area, most lacking essential food, clean water, and medical care. In the localities of As Serief and Kernoi, the International Organization for Migration estimated that about 10,000 people were displaced on Sunday due to heightened insecurity, with most fleeing to nearby locations within Kernoi.
Additionally, OCHA reported that drones targeted Khartoum International Airport at dawn on Tuesday, a day before it was scheduled to reopen for domestic flights for the first time since the conflict began in April 2023.
OCHA reiterated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and unimpeded humanitarian access for all those in need
