Militia attacks in Sudan’s Darfur region killed more than 100 people over two days, according to United Nations officials. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied groups struck on Friday and Saturday.
They attacked refugee camps in Abu Shouk and Zamzam, as well as the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The UN described this as a serious escalation in the ongoing conflict.
“This is another unacceptable attack on displaced people and aid workers,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.
The RSF launched the initial assault on Friday and continued on Saturday. The violence claimed the lives of nine aid workers at one of the area’s few functioning health centres.
Displacement and ongoing conflict
El Fasher remains under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces. They have been fighting the RSF since 2023. The civil war has killed more than 24,000 people.
Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps shelter over 700,000 people. Most of them fled previous fighting in Darfur.
Laetitia Bader, Director for the Horn of Africa at Human Rights Watch, said the RSF has targeted civilians around El Fasher since May 2024. In February, they also attacked the Zamzam camp.
Conditions in camps growing worse
Zamzam now holds over 500,000 displaced people. Many face extreme food shortages.
“In recent days, hundreds have fled to Tawila, a town 60 kilometres from Zamzam,” said Bader. “They arrive hungry, thirsty and with almost nothing.”
She added that the Sudanese Armed Forces claim to defend El Fasher but haven’t done enough to protect civilians.
