According to research from the University of Yale, a broad earthen wall is being built around the city of L-Fasher and its purpose is to implicate people inside.
From satellite images, the university’s Humanist Research Laboratory has identified more than 31 km (19 miles) of “Berm” – as known to the banks raised – have been built in the occupied area of ​​the paramilitary rapid support force (RSF) in the area outside the city since May to May.
L-Fashar under siege for more than a year is the last major foothills in Darfur for the Army, which has been struggling with RSF since April 2023.
Sudan Doctors Network has told the BBC that the RSF is intensifying its aggressive there and deliberately targets citizens.
Dr. of Medics Association Mohammad Faisal Hasan told the BBC’s newsday program, “Yesterday there was a shelling in a civilian area at the center of the city, killing about 24 civilians and injuring 55 people, among five women,” Dr. of Medics Association. Mohammad Faisal Hasan told the BBC’s newsday program.
He said that attacks on the central market and a residential area were “deliberately” and “heinous”.
“Three days ago he targeted one of the largest hospitals in L-Fasher and resulted in a large massacre of patients and medical staff.”
BBC Verifai says that both sides in conflict are using Baram as a defensive strategy.
But analysis by Yale’s Humanist Research Laboratory (HRL), which is closely monitoring the conflict, suggests that the RSF “is making a literal kilo box around L-Fasher”.
HRL detected the construction of earthen walls on the map of EL-Fashar (above):
- Green Line: 9 km was constructed between 14 to 24 July 2025 (satellite picture shows Alsen village in this stretch)
- Yellow line: 6 km built between 3 to 19 August 2025
- blue line: 7 km constructed between May 5 and 12 July 2025
- Red Line: Currently 9 km with construction between 13–27 August 2025.
HRL report Note that the physical range deepens the condition of siege and who can enter or leave the city, where around 300,000 people live.
Ever since the struggle broke out, RSF fighters in Darfur and affiliated Arab militia have been accused of targeting people from non-Arab ethnic groups.
“Some citizens are trying to escape from the city, but sadly they are being targeted by RSF forces and are killed,” Dr. Hasan said.
RSF has previously denied allegations of targeting citizens and ethnic cleaning.
Berms complicate things for citizens who are trying to escape or trying to bring food, medicine and other essential commodities.
Humanitarian organizations have been unable to reach L-Fashar for months and the remaining citizens have been tolerating continuous bombing, lack of food and difficulties in reaching medical care.
It is impossible to escape for many people.
“We have no money,” 37 -year -old Halima Hashim, a school student and mother of four, told the AFP news agency.
Staying behind was like a slow death, but “it is dangerous”, he said.
With the construction of the physical wall, HRL notes reports that the RSF has “also determined the strategic conditions” for the defeat of the Army Division there “.
The collapse of L-Fasher would mean that RSF completely controls the western region of Darfur.
Observers have warned that such scenario can potentially lead to the division of the country as warning forces have appointed each governments.
According to Yale’s HRL, the construction of the earthen wall continues.
Researchers visited 22 km of barm, which formed a semicircle from west to north of the city.
An and about 9 km walls extended both north and south by a major road in the east.
A section of the Baram built through Alsen (shown in satellite images above) indicates that most of the village was destroyed between May 20 and July 6.
It identified damage from RSF bombing for an important water treatment facility near the airport, where the army is based.
Researchers believe that the plant is still operational despite the loss.
Adeeb Abdel Rahman Yususaf, a former governor of the Central Darfur state, appealed to the United Nations Security Council to protect the citizens of L-Fasher.
East-manuals currently work with people with NGOs, who have appearance in L-Fasher.
The BBC World Service said, “The civil population in L-Fasher is paying the heaviest price. There is no one to protect them.”
Additional reporting by BBC’s violif muya and lucy flaming.
