The humanitarian crisis in Sudan worsens following a deadly assault on a camp for displaced people in the Darfur region. As violence escalates between the Rapid Support Forces and the army, aid organizations report significant casualties amid growing starvation fears.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Sudanese Camp Faces Deadly Assault
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Sudanese Camp Faces Deadly Assault
At least 40 people are reported dead after an attack by the Rapid Support Forces on a camp for displaced individuals in Darfur, highlighting the escalating violence amid ongoing civil war.
In a tragic escalation of violence in Sudan's western Darfur region, at least 40 individuals were killed in an attack on a camp for displaced people, according to reports from an aid group operating in the area. The assault, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), took place on Monday, reflecting the heightened conflict that has afflicted the region since the onset of civil war in April 2023.
The Abu Shouk Emergency Response Room, which provides assistance in the region, confirmed the fatalities, while a local resistance committee in el-Fasher also corroborated these reports. El-Fasher remains a critical stronghold for the Sudanese army and its allies amid ongoing clashes with the RSF. Reports indicate that the camp, housing around 200,000 displaced persons, was caught in intense crossfire during the fighting.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the United Nations has warned that families trapped in el-Fasher face the dire threat of starvation. Eyewitness accounts reveal that many victims were shot either in their homes or forcibly gunned down in public spaces. Highlighting the brutal nature of the assault, the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab recently reported locating a significant concentration of RSF vehicles in the vicinity, supporting claims of targeted attacks on the camp.
The camp's population primarily consists of non-Arab communities, such as the Fur and Zaghawa, who originally sought refuge from violence perpetrated by the Janjaweed militia over two decades ago. The RSF, which traces its origins to this militia, has faced numerous allegations of ethnic cleansing throughout the ongoing conflict. The organization has denied being part of what it terms tribal disputes.
In a concerning development, the Zaghawa fighters have aligned with the Sudanese army in defense of el-Fasher, raising fears that the RSF may have deliberately targeted Zaghawa civilians at the camp. The safety of displaced persons remains precarious, as camps near el-Fasher have frequently been targets of violence, with a previous attack in April resulting in over 100 casualties and significant displacement.
Since the onset of the conflict in April 2023, the situation in Sudan has deteriorated alarmingly. The death toll has reached tens of thousands, with 12 million people forcibly uprooted from their homes, and famine now declared in certain areas of the country.
