Hundreds of people are feared to have been killed or wounded after an attack by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Zamzam Camp for displaced people near al-Fasher. The assault, which began on Thursday and continued through Friday and Saturday, has been described as one of the most severe violations since the outbreak of the war in Sudan. The RSF’s attack devastated the camp, destroying homes, markets, and healthcare facilities, leaving hundreds of civilians dead or injured. The majority of the victims were women and children, according to advocacy groups and local sources.
The General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees condemned the attack as a “war crime and crime against humanity,” highlighting the dire consequences for the people living in the camp. The RSF’s violent assault also extended to other areas, including Abu Shouk Camp earlier in the week, where 35 civilians were killed. The attacks have left survivors trapped in an increasingly desperate situation, with little access to humanitarian aid or basic resources.
The humanitarian situation in the region has deteriorated rapidly, with reports of famine, shortages of medicine, and escalating insecurity. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, confirmed that at least 100 civilians had been killed in the recent attacks on Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps, which together house over 700,000 displaced individuals. These camps, which were supposed to offer refuge for those fleeing violence, have now become hotspots for further atrocities.
Relief International, one of the last organizations still providing vital services in Zamzam Camp, reported that its clinic was overrun during the attack, and nine of its staff members, including doctors and drivers, were killed. The clinic had been the last remaining source of healthcare in the camp, and its destruction has left many without any form of medical care. The organization described the assault as a targeted attack on the most vulnerable members of the population, including the elderly, women, and children.
In response to the growing crisis, the RSF denied any responsibility for the attacks on civilians in Zamzam Camp. The group dismissed the allegations as a media fabrication, claiming that a video circulating online, which showed the suffering of civilians, was staged by the Sudanese army. The RSF argued that the video was part of a larger propaganda campaign designed to discredit them and shift attention away from the atrocities committed by their rivals, the Sudanese army. They also reiterated their commitment to international humanitarian law, despite mounting evidence of violations.
The violence in Sudan is part of a broader conflict that erupted in April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The war has led to widespread displacement and has devastated regions like Darfur, where the RSF is attempting to retain control amidst advances by the army. The ongoing fighting has left millions of Sudanese civilians caught in the crossfire, facing violence, deprivation, and insecurity.
Humanitarian organizations and local leaders are calling for an immediate ceasefire and increased access for aid workers to provide assistance to those trapped in conflict zones. With the situation worsening by the day, international intervention may be necessary to prevent further bloodshed and to deliver urgent aid to those in need.
