By Were Kelly |
Satellite imagery has revealed the grim presence of mass graves in the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, providing the first tangible evidence of the scale of atrocities committed during its recent seizure by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).Â
Analysis conducted by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, shared with news agencies on Thursday, identified a site containing at least 460 bodies adjacent to a former Saudi hospital, confirming the worst fears of human rights monitors amid a near-total information blackout.
The satellite evidence depicts disturbed earth consistent with mass burials, occurring in a pattern that suggests a coordinated effort.
“The imagery shows clear evidence of mass burials at a scale that indicates a systematic process, not isolated incidents,” stated a researcher from the Yale lab.Â
“This is a deliberate attempt to conceal the scale of the killing.”
The discovery comes as the United Nations estimates that 15,000 civilians remain trapped in el-Fasher, cut off from most communication and aid, with reports of widespread ethnic killings and sexual violence continuing to emerge.
The findings have prompted international outrage and calls for justice. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a forceful statement, saying, “I am appalled by the reports of mass graves in el-Fasher. This is a grave violation of international humanitarian law. There must be immediate, independent access for investigators and accountability for these atrocities.”
A spokesperson for a Sudanese human rights group based remotely added, “This is what we feared. The blackout in el-Fasher was a cover for unspeakable horrors. The world must not look away.”
The satellite evidence now stands as a crucial, if horrifying, record of the events in el-Fasher, potentially serving as key evidence for future war crimes investigations by the International Criminal Court or other judicial bodies. The RSF has not publicly responded to the satellite analysis.
