Paramilitary Attack On Displacement Camp In Sudan Leaves Dozens Dead Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis.
At least 25 civilians have been killed in Sudan’s war-torn North Darfur state following a brutal assault on a famine-stricken displacement camp, local activists reported on Friday. The deadly incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the battle for control of El-Fasher, the last army-held city in Darfur, intensifies.
According to the local resistance committee in El-Fasher—a volunteer aid group operating under siege—shelling and heavy gunfire rained down on the Zamzam displacement camp from both the southern and eastern directions. The attack left dozens more wounded and spread fear among already vulnerable residents.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes as RSF combat vehicles infiltrated the camp under the cover of sustained gunfire, targeting one of the largest camps for internally displaced people in the region. Zamzam, along with other camps around El-Fasher, has endured severe hardship throughout the nearly two-year-long civil conflict.
“The full extent of the damage remains unclear due to ongoing communication blackouts and internet shutdowns,” said the resistance committee. While some defensive fire was reported in response to the assault, the disruption of communication channels has made it difficult to assess casualties and provide aid.
This latest violence comes just one day after a similar RSF attack on the nearby Abu Shouk camp, where at least 15 people were killed and 25 injured, according to rescue workers.
The RSF, which lost control of Sudan’s capital Khartoum last month, has since ramped up its offensive in Darfur in a bid to consolidate power. The attack on Zamzam, a location where famine was officially declared by a UN-backed assessment last year, underscores the worsening humanitarian situation in the region.
Aid agencies and international observers continue to raise alarms over the deteriorating conditions in Darfur, warning that increased violence and restricted access to basic resources could lead to even greater loss of life if left unaddressed.
Despite the dire circumstances, humanitarian efforts have faced significant challenges due to ongoing fighting, restricted movement, and limited communication infrastructure.
Calls are mounting for an urgent ceasefire and renewed international pressure to protect civilians and facilitate the delivery of aid to those most in need.
