In a devastating act of violence, Sudanese paramilitaries have destroyed the last medical clinic serving refugees in the famine-affected Zamzam camp, located in El Fasher, North Darfur. The attack, which took place on Friday, resulted in the death of all nine medical staff, including the lead physician, and at least 100 civilians, according to reports from various humanitarian organizations and the United Nations.
As the Rapid Support Forces, commonly known as the R.S.F., breached the camp boundaries after a night of relentless shelling, survivors recounted the chilling events that unfolded. "Many civilians had gathered to seek shelter or food, and suddenly they were met with violence," said a witness. The R.S.F. not only decimated the clinic but also demolished hundreds of homes and the camp's central market, significantly worsening the humanitarian crisis in a place already burdened with suffering.
The aid organization Relief International confirmed the deaths of the clinic's entire staff—five doctors and four drivers—who had remained on-site despite threats to leave. "They stayed to care for those injured amidst the chaos," mentioned Kashif Shafique, the organization's Sudan director. The attackers had instructed the medical personnel to evacuate the day prior to the assault, but their commitment to addressing the immediate health needs of the injured kept them rooted in place.
With the closure of primary escape routes from the camp due to ongoing violence, many residents find themselves trapped, further compounded by the lack of medical support. The brutality of this incident is a stark reminder of the escalating humanitarian disaster in Darfur, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of an unending civil conflict. International aid agencies are calling for urgent action to address the desperate situation as the world watches this tragedy unfold.
As the Rapid Support Forces, commonly known as the R.S.F., breached the camp boundaries after a night of relentless shelling, survivors recounted the chilling events that unfolded. "Many civilians had gathered to seek shelter or food, and suddenly they were met with violence," said a witness. The R.S.F. not only decimated the clinic but also demolished hundreds of homes and the camp's central market, significantly worsening the humanitarian crisis in a place already burdened with suffering.
The aid organization Relief International confirmed the deaths of the clinic's entire staff—five doctors and four drivers—who had remained on-site despite threats to leave. "They stayed to care for those injured amidst the chaos," mentioned Kashif Shafique, the organization's Sudan director. The attackers had instructed the medical personnel to evacuate the day prior to the assault, but their commitment to addressing the immediate health needs of the injured kept them rooted in place.
With the closure of primary escape routes from the camp due to ongoing violence, many residents find themselves trapped, further compounded by the lack of medical support. The brutality of this incident is a stark reminder of the escalating humanitarian disaster in Darfur, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of an unending civil conflict. International aid agencies are calling for urgent action to address the desperate situation as the world watches this tragedy unfold.
