Key Points
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RSF attack on Sudan camp leaves 40 people dead today.
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Civilians face worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s el-Fasher region.
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International calls intensify to immediately halt ongoing RSF assault.
Fighters from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked a camp for displaced people close to the beleaguered city of el-Fasher, the last significant stronghold of the Sudanese army in the western Darfur region, killing at least 40 people.
The RSF, supported by allied militias, attacked the camp early on Monday, burning makeshift shelters and firing on civilians, according to locals and aid workers.
For hundreds of thousands of displaced people taking refuge in and around the city, which has been under siege for months, the strike has increased their level of anxiety.
A humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by an RSF attack on a camp in Sudan
As families escaped burning tents with children and what few possessions they could save, witnesses recounted scenes of panic. According to aid officials, ongoing fighting and roadblocks made it difficult for medical teams to get to the area.
The conflict has already claimed tens of thousands of lives since April 2023, and the UN warned that the incident could signal a dangerous escalation.
North Darfur’s capital, El-Fasher, has served as a lifeline for people escaping violence in the countryside.
There is a shortage of clean water, food, and medical supplies in the overcrowded city’s displacement camps. The RSF’s advance on the city poses a threat to completely shut off humanitarian routes.
Crossfire on civilians as the conflict intensifies
According to a report by Africa-news, since the breakdown of peace negotiations last year, the RSF and the Sudanese army have been engaged in a power struggle.
Both sides have accused one another of violating international law by targeting civilians, and El-Fasher is regarded as strategically important.
The most recent assault occurs as aid organizations warn that famine is imminent throughout Darfur. One aid worker remarked, “The people here are already surviving on the edge.” “They are being forced over it by this violence.”
Calls to stop the RSF attack are growing internationally
Western governments and the African Union have called for an immediate ceasefire, increasing international pressure on both warring parties.
Investigations into suspected war crimes, such as the targeting of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, have been demanded by human rights organizations.
Those confined to el-Fasher’s camps currently have limited choices. Some claim they are too weak to move, while many are afraid to venture beyond the city’s boundaries. Standing next to the ashes of her shelter, a mother of four said, “We just want to live.”
