Barrier being built around besieged Sudan city, satellite images show

According to research from Yale University, a large earth wall around the surrounded Sudan city al-Fasher is being built and aims to trap people from the inside.

From the satellite images, the university’s Human Research Laboratory, as the raised banks have been known – since May, the Paramiliter Fast Support Forces (RSF) described more than 31km (19 miles) built in the region occupied in the region occupied.

Al-Fasher has been under siege for more than a year, the last great basis in Darfur for the army that has been fighting with the RSF since April 2023.

Sudanese doctors, the Network of the BBC, said that RSF has intensified the attack there and deliberately targeted civilians.

BBC Association. Mohamed Faisal Hassan told the BBC to the Newsday program, “Yesterday there was a bombardment that killed approximately 24 civilians in a civilian region in the city center and wounded 55 people five women.” He said.

Authorized, central market and settlement attacks “deliberate” and “disgusting”, he said.

“Three days ago, they targeted one of the largest hospitals in Al-Fasher, and a great massacre resulted in patients and health personnel.”

BBC Verify says that both sides in the conflict use Berm as a defense strategy.

However, the analysis of Yale’s Human Research Laboratory (HRL), which closely monitors the conflict, shows that the RSF is “a real killing box around al-Fasher”.

HRL followed the construction of the earth walls to the al-Fasher map (above):

• Green Line: 9km was built between 14-24 July 2025 (satellite images show Alsen Village in this stretch)
• Yellow Line: 6km was built between 3-19 August 2025
• Blue line: 7km was built between 5 May and 12 July 2025
• Red Line: Currently, the construction continues between 9-27 August 2025.

HRL Report He notes the siege conditions of the physical border and who and what can enter or leave, and deepening the control of about 300,000 people.

Since the conflict exploded, RSF fighters in Darfur and allied Arab militias have been accused of targeting people of non -Arab ethnic groups.

“Some civilians are trying to escape from the city, but unfortunately they are targeted and killed by RSF forces.” He said.

RSF previously rejected the accusations of targeting civilians and making ethnic cleaning.

Bermler complicates things for civilians trying to escape or those who want to bring food, medicine and other basic items.

Humanitarian aid organizations have not been able to access al-Fasher for months, and the remaining civilians are constantly bombarded, food famine and difficulties in accessing medical care.

It is impossible to escape for many.

“No money,” AFP said to the news agency.

Staying behind was like a slow death, but he said, “Leaving dangerous.”

With the construction of the physical wall, the HRL report says that RSF has “identified the necessary tactical conditions” for the defeat of the Army Department based on the RSF.

The fall of al-Fasher means that RSF completely controls the western region of Darfur.

The observers warn that such a scenario can lead to the division of the country because the potentially fighting forces appoint their governments.

According to Yale’s HRL, the construction of the earth wall continues.

The researchers observed a 22 km Berm, which forms a semicircle from west to the north of the city.

A wall of about 9 km reached a large road both in the north and south in the east.

One part of the berin, built from Alsen (shown in the above satellite images), shows that the majority of the village was destroyed between May 20 and July 6.

In addition, the RSF bombardment of the army was based on the airport near an important water treatment plant detected damage.

Researchers believe that the facility is still in operation despite the damage.

Adeeb Abdel Rahman Youssef, former governor of Central Darfur, resorted to the UN Security Council to protect EL-FASHER civilians.

The former politician is currently working with NGO People for people who exist in al-Fasher.

“The civilian population in al-Fasher pays the heaviest price. There is no one to protect them.” He said.

Additional reports by Wycliffe Muia and Lucy Fleming from BBC.