gasifier and a gasification process provides a long, uniform temperature zone in the gasifier, regardless of the particle size, chemical composition, and moisture content of the fuel by sandwiching a reduction zones between two oxidation zones. The gasifier and gasification process produces a char that is more energy-dense and almost devoid of moisture, affording an additional (char) oxidation zone with a temperature that is higher than a first oxidation zone which is closer to an evaporation and devolatilization zone. As such, the additional (char) oxidation zone contributes to augmenting the reduction zone temperature, providing a favorable dual impact in improving syngas composition and near-complete conversion of the tar.