Escalation of Violence in Darfur: Over 100 Dead in Attacks on Displaced Camps
Recent assaults by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with allied militias, have left a devastating impact on famine-stricken camps in the Darfur region, resulting in over 100 fatalities, including 20 children and nine humanitarian workers. This tragic event unfolded over a two-day period, beginning Friday, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the area.
Details of the Attacks
The attacks targeted the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps, as well as the nearby city of el-Fasher, which serves as the North Darfur provincial capital. According to Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, the violence is indicative of a worsening pattern of brutality against vulnerable populations and those who aid them.
Impact on Humanitarian Efforts
Among the victims were nine aid workers, killed while providing essential health services at one of the few remaining operational clinics in the Zamzam camp. The Sudan Doctors’ Union reported that six of these workers belonged to Relief International, which included notable figures such as Dr. Mahmoud Babaker Idris and Adam Babaker Abdallah, head of the organization in the region. The union condemned the RSF for this “criminal and barbaric act.”
Relief International expressed profound sorrow over the loss of its workers, describing the situation as a “targeted attack on all health infrastructure in the region.” The offensive resulted in the destruction of the central market in Zamzam and numerous makeshift homes within the camp, prompting approximately 2,400 individuals to flee the area.
The Broader Crisis
The Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps currently shelter more than 700,000 displaced individuals who have been forced from their homes due to prolonged conflict in Darfur. The ongoing fighting has triggered the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, with nearly 25 million people—half of Sudan’s total population—facing extreme hunger, as reported by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
Despite the recent military regain of control over Khartoum, strategic victories in the war remain clouded by the RSF’s control over significant portions of Darfur. The clashes between the RSF and Sudanese military have persisted for nearly two years, resulting in an estimated death toll exceeding 24,000, according to U.N. reports, although local activists suggest the actual number could be much higher.
Conclusion
The recent assaults emphasize the urgent need for increased international attention and humanitarian intervention in Sudan, as the situation deteriorates for those already suffering from the consequences of war. The U.N. and various humanitarian organizations continue to call for the protection of civilians and support for the displaced.