A paramilitary force alleged to be the Rapid Support Forces has stormed the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, looting and burning critical infrastructure, exacerbating the dire famine conditions for the estimated 500,000 displaced residents.
Rapid Support Forces Attack Famine-Hit Camp in Darfur
Rapid Support Forces Attack Famine-Hit Camp in Darfur
Zamzam camp experiences violence as displaced individuals face worsening humanitarian crisis.
A paramilitary force in Sudan has been accused of launching a violent assault on the Zamzam camp, the largest displacement site in the country, which is currently grappling with severe famine. According to local refugee organizations, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) invaded the camp, leading to widespread looting and fires that destroyed the market and numerous homes.
Witness accounts describe the grim realities inside the camp, declaring the situation as "extremely catastrophic" with numerous casualties reported. Eyewitnesses indicate that despite the need for medical care, the camp's hospital has been rendered incapable of performing surgeries due to ongoing conflict. Over 500,000 displaced individuals reside at Zamzam, all of whom were already suffering from famine before the latest violence.
The city of el-Fasher, located nearby, is currently under siege by the RSF, which is engaged in a struggle with the Sudanese military. Once allies in a coup that brought them to power, the military and RSF have since become adversaries, primarily due to disagreements over transitioning to civilian governance.
Reports from the Sudanese IDPs and Refugees Bloc confirmed that the RSF entered the camp on Tuesday. However, an RSF spokesperson refuted these claims, asserting that their forces were engaged with another armed group near a military base but had not invaded Zamzam.
North Darfur’s Health Minister, Ibrahim Abdullah Khater, expressed deep concern for the wounded, stating that the RSF is obstructing their access to medical treatment in el-Fasher. He emphasized that the displaced populace continues to bear the brunt of this violence.
The humanitarian situation at Zamzam worsened significantly late last year amid heavy shelling that aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, attributed to the RSF. In a December statement, various international NGOs warned of escalating violence at Zamzam, highlighting a concerning pattern of attacks against displaced populations. They underscored the grim reality that there are currently no safe havens left for residents seeking refuge in North Darfur.
El-Fasher, now the only city in the region still controlled by the military, has been under siege since April of last year. The RSF has been accused of committing ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities, further complicating the conflict and exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
