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The Ongoing Crisis in Sudan’s Zamzam Camp: An Eyewitness Account of Horror

In a harrowing escalation of violence, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a brutal assault on Sudan’s largest displacement camp, Zamzam, forcing an estimated 700,000 residents to flee in search of safety. The assault commenced with heavy shelling, gunfire from anti-aircraft trucks, and terrifying chants directed at the camp’s inhabitants.

As chaos erupted, the displaced individuals scrambled to gather whatever belongings they could carry, utilizing donkeys and camels to help facilitate their hasty escape towards El Fasher, just 14 kilometers away, or the Tawila camp situated 60 kilometers west.

Mohamed*, a community organizer, recounted his experience attempting to reach a medical center operated by Relief International, which had come under fire during the initial strike on April 11, resulting in the tragic loss of nine staff members, including a close friend of his. He described the attackers as monstrous, noting their inhumane behavior as they killed people indiscriminately in their homes. “It was behavior you’d expect in a savage wild,” Mohamed stated, confirming that escapees were targeted in their vehicles and homes.

In the midst of the assault, Mohamed himself was shot while trying to escape but managed to find refuge in a nearby home. Rescuers had limited supplies, relying on nothing but salt and leaves to tend to his wound as they spent days in hiding.

The violence in Zamzam persisted for three days, with the RSF and allied militias claiming control of the camp by April 13. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that at least 400 civilians had perished, with numbers likely underreported due to the lack of access to the area.

This conflict is not new for many residents of Zamzam. Over the years, the camp has swollen as individuals sought refuge from RSF violence across Darfur, with its origins dating back to earlier conflicts involving the Janjaweed militias. A long-time inhabitant reported being engulfed by flames when the shelling began and described a desperate escape with neighbors towards El Fasher.

The UN estimates that around 400,000 individuals fled Zamzam as violence intensified, with thousands arriving in Tawila in dire need of assistance due to extreme dehydration and exhaustion. Medecins Sans Frontieres reported that many children faced life-threatening conditions upon arrival, while hospitals struggled with overcrowding, often compelling patients to share beds.

Meanwhile, survivors arriving at Tawila reported horrific scenes of families who had walked for days without water, with many losing their belongings to armed groups. Some families found themselves in makeshift camps without access to basic necessities.

In El Fasher, the situation is equally dire, with reports indicating that many are waiting for medical treatment, often reliant on primitive first aid methods. Medical professionals in the region are raising alarms over the dire needs for food, shelter, and clean water, which remain scarce due to ongoing conflict and supply routing issues.

A doctor in El Fasher lamented the continuous bombardment by the RSF, noting that artillery fire is a near-constant threat. In addition, the siege has severely disrupted local markets. Price surges for essential goods reflect the desperate conditions exacerbated by the ongoing violence, highlighting the lingering impact of famine and scarcity in the region.

While approximately half of Zamzam’s population has managed to escape, many remain trapped, accused by Mohamed and local activists of being held captive and used as human shields against potential counterattacks. Selective roadblock measures by RSF troops reportedly target individuals based on their ethnicity.

“The intent seems clear,” Mohamed asserted, “to enact a mass genocide against tribes not aligned with the RSF.”

A communications blackout has hindered efforts to ascertain the full extent of casualties and the aftermath of the attacks. Slowly, families outside of Darfur are beginning to learn about the devastation their loved ones have faced.

One campaigner based in the UK shared his anguish over the fate of his family, expressing sorrow over the loss of several relatives who did not survive the violence.

Data from the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab indicates widespread destruction, with satellite imagery revealing that 1.7 square kilometers of the camp suffered extensive fire damage as a result of the RSF’s actions.

“Even now, those who remain are facing violence and are being subjected to further atrocities. It is a tragedy unlike anything humanity has previously endured,” Mohamed concluded.

* Name has been changed

Source
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