El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, remains under siege as fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) traps more than 260,000 civilians. Satellite images reveal trenches and sand berms sealing off escape routes. Markets are empty, food warehouses looted, and hospitals overwhelmed with casualties. Humanitarian agencies describe conditions as “catastrophic,” with famine looming and medicine nearly gone.

International negotiators have tried repeatedly to secure a humanitarian corridor, yet ceasefire promises collapse within days. Aid convoys have been attacked or blocked by rival factions. Both sides accuse each other of atrocities, while ordinary families endure starvation, disease, and relentless shelling. Churches have opened their doors as makeshift shelters, offering prayer and limited relief.

Diplomats warn that El Fasher’s fall would devastate hopes for peace nationwide. The African Union and United Nations are pressing for a monitored truce, but progress is slow. Still, testimonies emerge of believers sharing food, caring for the wounded, and reading Psalm 91 aloud amid explosions. Their faith stands as a quiet protest against despair.

Prayer Pointers

1. Pray: for protection and humanitarian access to reach every trapped family. “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” (Psalm 82:3, NIV)
2. Pray: for an end to siege tactics and for peacemakers to prevail. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NIV)
3. Pray: for the Sudanese Church to shine with courage and compassion. “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9, NIV)

Prayer for Sudan

God of mercy, break the grip of violence and open the way for food and healing. Strengthen Your people to be light in the darkness, and let peace cover Sudan once again. Amen.

More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw1gj4kk7o