Sudanese Paramilitaries

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias launched a brutal two-day assault on the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk displacement camps near El Fasher, North Darfur, in a devastating escalation of the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Over 100 people perished in the attacks, which began on April 11, 2025, including 20 children and nine humanitarian aid workers. Before this latest tragedy, these camps, which house over 700,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), were already struggling with severe famine conditions. The Assault on Zamzam and Abu Shorouk Camps

The RSF and its allied militias initiated their offensive on the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps, as well as the nearby city of El Fasher, on Friday, April 11. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the Sudanese Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations, confirmed that the attacks continued into Saturday, April 12, resulting in the loss of a significant number of civilian lives and the destruction of essential infrastructure. AP Reports AP News+3allAfrica.com+3Wikipedia+3

A targeted attack on Relief International's clinic in the Zamzam camp resulted in the deaths of nine of its employees, the organization reported. Over 100 people perished in the attacks, which began on April 11, 2025, including 20 children and nine humanitarian aid workers.Among the victims was Dr. Mahmoud Babaker Idris, a physician at the hospital, and Adam Babaker Abdallah, the regional head of the organization. Hundreds of improvised homes and Zamzam's central market were also destroyed during the assault. Humanitarian Crisis and Famine Conditions

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has identified areas where the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps are situated as experiencing famine conditions. Food, medical supplies, and security were already severely lacking in these camps prior to the attacks. These difficulties have been made worse by the recent violence, which has forced approximately 2,400 people to leave the camps and the city of El Fasher. The use of starvation as a weapon of war has been condemned by the United Nations, pointing out that approximately two million people in North Darfur face extreme food insecurity, with 320,000 already experiencing famine. International Reactions and Calls for Accountability

The attacks on the camps of Zamzam and Abu Shorouk have been categorized as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity by a number of advocacy groups and humanitarian organizations. In their official communications, the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees explicitly condemned the assaults by using this terminology. The Sudanese Armed Forces, according to the RSF, fabricated video footage that showed civilian suffering as part of a coordinated misinformation campaign. The RSF has denied being involved in the atrocities. The Broader Conflict in Sudan

Sudan's civil war, which erupted in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese military, has resulted in the deaths of over 24,000 people, according to United Nations estimates. The conflict has resulted in the "biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded," according to the International Rescue Committee, which has displaced millions of people. El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, remains under the control of the Sudanese military. However, the RSF continues to dominate most of Darfur and other areas, maintaining a siege on El Fasher and blocking humanitarian aid from reaching the city.

Conclusion

A serious escalation in Sudan's ongoing conflict can be seen in the targeted killing of humanitarian workers and the destruction of essential infrastructure in famine-stricken displacement camps. The conflict has resulted in the "biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded," according to the International Rescue Committee, which has displaced millions of people .As the international community continues to monitor the situation, there is an urgent need for concerted efforts to protect civilians, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, and hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.