El-fasher: The UN Human Rights Office in Sudan warned Saturday that El-Fasher has become a city engulfed in grief as brutal attacks escalate, leaving civilians trapped and suffering atrocities on an unimaginable scale. 'Over the past ten days, El-Fasher has witnessed an escalation of brutal attacks. It has become a city of grief,' Li Fung, UN Human Rights Representative in Sudan, said in a video published on US social media company X. According to Anadolu Agency, civilians who survived 18 months of siege and hostilities are now enduring atrocities of an unimaginable scale. Hundreds have been killed, including women, children, and the wounded, who sought safety in hospitals and schools. Entire families were cut down as they fled, while others have simply vanished. The UN representative noted that thousands have been detained, including medical personnel and journalists, with the grim reality of sexual violence being ever-present in the region. Fung highlighted the lack of safe routes for those attempting to leave El-Fasher, which poses serious protection risks to those who remain trapped in the city, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, those with chronic health conditions, and the wounded. She described the situation as a systematic assault on human life and dignity, with brutal attacks often occurring on the basis of ethnicity. The UN Human Rights Office in Sudan continues to document violations and abuses despite disruptions to communications and limited access to sources and critical sites. 'We continue to bear witness, to raise the voice of survivors, and to press for accountability,' Fung said. The organization is part of efforts by the UN and the humanitarian community to advocate for safe passage and protection of civilians, as well as unhindered humanitarian access and support for the many affected civilians. Fung emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, 'El-Fasher is bleeding, and the time to act is now. The violence must be stopped. Civilians must be protected. Victims need acc ess to assistance and redress. Accountability is the only way forward to prevent these horrors from reoccurring. The world needs to act now.' On Oct. 26, the RSF seized control of El-Fasher and committed massacres of civilians, according to local and international organizations. This event has raised warnings that the assault could entrench the country's geographical partition. Since April 15, 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been locked in a war that regional and international mediations have failed to end, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.