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Escalating Violence in Darfur: Zamzam Camp Under Siege
Violence has tragically persisted for three consecutive days at the Zamzam camp in Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of individuals have sought refuge from the ongoing civil war. Residents report a situation that is “extremely catastrophic,” with dire conditions prevailing in the encampment.
According to the United Nations, the assaults that began late last week have resulted in over 100 civilian fatalities, which includes at least 20 children and members of a medical team. The violence is centered in Sudan’s western Darfur region, specifically targeting the city of el Fasher and adjacent camps.
The paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been accused of orchestrating these attacks. However, the RSF has denied responsibility, characterizing the accounts of violence as fabricated claims aimed at discrediting their operations.
The Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps serve as temporary sanctuaries for over 700,000 displaced individuals, many of whom are now confronting dire conditions akin to famine.
This alarming situation unfolds just ahead of the second anniversary of the civil war, which has been marked by conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s national army. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, expressed her horror at the latest reports of violence, labeling them an “unacceptable escalation” of ongoing attacks against displaced populations and humanitarian workers.
Relief International, a humanitarian organization, reported that nine of its workers—including health professionals and logistical support staff—were tragically killed during the attacks in Zamzam. This organization has stated that it was the final provider of essential health services within the camp, and has alleged that RSF militants directly targeted health infrastructure to obstruct medical access for those displaced.
“This was not just a random act of violence; it was a calculated attack on health facilities,” a spokesperson emphasized. The organization condemned the assault on their clinic, as well as others in el-Fasher, which played a critical role in the provision of healthcare to vulnerable individuals.
Amidst the chaos, Mustafa, a 34-year-old resident and community kitchen worker, conveyed via WhatsApp that numerous young individuals have lost their lives, particularly those involved in providing essential services. He recounted personal losses, including family members, and emphasized the severity of the situation: “People are wounded, and there is no medicine or hospital to save them; they are dying from bleeding. The shelling is still ongoing.”
The situation appears bleak, with escape routes from the camp completely blocked, resulting in a sense of entrapment among the displaced. Another resident, identified as Wasir, lamented, “Nothing is left in Zamzam.” He noted that the pervasive danger makes it nearly impossible for civilians to flee to safety.
Recent assessments from Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab indicate that these recent attacks represent one of the most notable ground offensives against the Zamzam camp since the onset of conflict in the el-Fasher area in early 2024. The lab’s specialists reported extensive damage from arson to numerous structures, affecting significant portions of the camp.
The civil war, originating from a power struggle between the Sudanese Army and the RSF, has escalated into one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, displacing over 12 million people and exacerbating food insecurity among affected populations. The conflict ignited on April 15, 2023, following a breakdown in relations between military leaders regarding the country’s political trajectory.
El-Fasher remains the last key town in Darfur under the control of the army, having endured a year of siege by RSF forces, further complicating the humanitarian landscape in the region.
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