A brutal assault by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Zamzam camp for displaced people near al-Fasher has left hundreds dead or wounded, Sudan’s foreign ministry and humanitarian groups said on Saturday. The attack is being described by some as one of the gravest atrocities since the conflict erupted.
According to the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees, the first wave of attacks began on Thursday and continued through Saturday, devastating homes, markets, and healthcare facilities.
The organization said “hundreds” were killed or injured—most of them women and children—and condemned the assault as “a war crime and crime against humanity.” It also reported that 35 civilians were killed earlier in the week during similar attacks on Abu Shouk camp.
“The humanitarian situation in al-Fasher is collapsing,” the statement read, citing severe food shortages, a lack of medical supplies, and escalating insecurity.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Clementine Nkweta-Salami confirmed that at least 100 civilians were killed across Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps, which together host more than 700,000 displaced people. Many are now trapped without access to safety or aid.
Relief International, the last remaining aid provider operating in Zamzam, said its clinic was overrun and nine staff members—including doctors and drivers—were killed.
“This was a targeted attack on the most vulnerable—elderly people, women, and children,” the organization said. “Our clinic, the last access point to healthcare in Zamzam, was also attacked.”
The RSF has denied responsibility, calling the allegations “fabricated.” In a statement released Saturday, the group claimed a recently circulated video showing the aftermath was staged by the Sudanese army as part of a media campaign.
The RSF reaffirmed its commitment to international humanitarian law and accused its rivals of using misinformation to deflect attention from their own abuses.
Humanitarian agencies and local leaders are calling for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted access for aid organizations.
Reuters
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