Famine-Hit Sudan Displacement Camp Attacked by Paramilitary Forces

The situation at the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur has escalated, with reports of the Rapid Support Forces storming the facility, leading to looting, fire, and casualties in a humanitarian crisis that continues to deteriorate amid ongoing conflict.

In a disturbing escalation of violence, the environment at Zamzam camp, the largest displacement camp in Sudan, has been severely affected as paramilitary fighters are accused of launching an attack. The camp, located in North Darfur and housing around 500,000 individuals already besieged by famine, has faced intensified artillery assaults since last year, but this marks the first time the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly sent troops into the camp.

Eyewitness accounts describe the situation as "extremely catastrophic," with casualties noted amidst chaotic conditions. The RSF is involved in a fierce battle with the Sudanese army, which has seen the nearby city of el-Fasher becoming a focal point of the civil unrest that erupted in early 2023. Despite being previously allied, the two groups have become adversaries over a plan to transition to civilian rule, deteriorating their relationship significantly.

The Sudanese IDPs and Refugees Bloc reported that the RSF invaded Zamzam camp on Tuesday; however, an RSF spokesman refuted the claims, asserting that their forces had instead overtaken a military base after it allegedly targeted RSF checkpoints.

Further scrutiny has revealed social media posts featuring armed individuals within the camp, with evidence pointing towards the RSF. Despite this, the spokesman claimed that measures were in place to protect camp residents from ongoing hostilities.

The camp has not only struggled with famine but also now faces renewed displacement, with thousands fleeing again after the RSF's incursion. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), operating a hospital in Zamzam, reported receiving numerous casualties, struggling to attend to the influx due to limited capabilities, including an inability to perform surgeries. The injured are facing barriers to additional medical care, with RSF blocking access to el-Fasher.

Health officials have voiced concerns over the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) suffering the most, especially after heavy artillery fire ravaged the area last year. A collaborative statement from international NGOs has characterized the assaults on Zamzam as part of a larger pattern of violence that puts all displacement camps in North Darfur at high risk.

As the siege around el-Fasher tightens, it remains the last significant urban area under military control in a region where the RSF has been accused of executing ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities, creating a dire humanitarian crisis with no safe refuge remaining for those affected by the ongoing conflict.