Bloodstains from Sudan's Civil War Visible from Space

Up to 400,000 people have died in over two years of civil war in Sudan, though the true toll is impossible to measure. The carnage in the Sudanese city of El Fasher has become so severe that the blood stains can be seen from space. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which attacked the capital of Khartoum two years ago, kicking off a brutal civil war, finally took over El Fasher last week. The RSF's capture of the stronghold follows an 18-month siege that left some 150,000 people trapped in El Fasher, forcing them to live off of rainwater and animal feed. According to eyewitness accounts, the situation in El Fasher has been dire for months. "We've seen people dying from thirst and hunger," said a local resident, who wished to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. "The city is in ruins, and there's no sign of relief in sight." The resident's account is corroborated by satellite imagery and geolocated social media posts, which have become the only pieces of evidence available to stitch together a picture of the mass atrocities. The conflict in Sudan has its roots in a long-standing power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese military. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes, including the use of aerial bombing and forced displacement of civilians. The Sudanese military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has also been accused of human rights abuses and has been criticized for its handling of the conflict. The international community has been largely silent on the crisis, with few countries willing to take a strong stance against the RSF or the Sudanese military. However, some human rights groups have spoken out against the atrocities committed in El Fasher. "The situation in El Fasher is a humanitarian disaster," said a spokesperson for the human rights group, Amnesty International. "We urge the international community to take immediate action to protect the civilians trapped in the city." The capture of El Fasher marks a significant turning point in the conflict, with the RSF now in control of the city and the surrounding region. The situation on the ground remains dire, with reports of widespread violence and human rights abuses continuing to emerge. As the international community struggles to respond to the crisis, the people of El Fasher remain trapped in a desperate situation, with little hope of relief in sight. In the coming days, the international community is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis in Sudan. The meeting is likely to focus on finding a peaceful solution to the conflict and providing humanitarian aid to the affected regions. However, with the RSF now in control of El Fasher, it remains to be seen whether a peaceful solution is possible.