Tens of thousands of residents have fled their homes in the Abu Shouk camp in the Sudanese city of al-Fashir after an assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary troops, activists reported. The RSF, engaged in a fierce battle to capture the last army stronghold in western Darfur, launched an attack on Wednesday, looting the camp and causing significant casualties.
Local sources disclosed that the RSF’s raid resulted in an unknown number of fatalities and at least 13 injuries. This attack marks more than a year since the onset of Sudan’s internal conflict. The Coordinating Committee for Refugees and Displaced People, which oversees regional camps, stated that approximately 60% of the camp’s over 100,000 residents fled on Thursday.
Clashes continued in other areas of al-Fashir on Friday, intensifying the humanitarian crisis. The RSF and its allies had previously overtaken four other Darfur state capitals last year, with accusations of ethnically driven violence against non-Arab groups and other human rights abuses in West Darfur, allegations the RSF has denied.
The situation remains dire, with no immediate comments from the RSF or the Sudanese army regarding the latest incidents. Both factions have persistently blamed each other for the ongoing violence. The U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide warned of a potential genocide, with indications that it might already be occurring.
Alice Wairimu Nderitu, addressing the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, emphasised that civilians in al-Fashir and other parts of Darfur were being targeted based on their identity and skin color. This recent violence evokes memories of the atrocities committed two decades ago, when the janjaweed militias, RSF’s precursors, were accused of genocide while allied with the Sudanese army.
Since the conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army erupted in Khartoum in April 2023, long-simmering tensions over integrating the two forces have led to widespread displacement. Al-Fashir, historically a center of power, has seen its population swell by about half a million due to the ongoing war.
The humanitarian toll is severe. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported at least 85 deaths at the only operational hospital in southern al-Fashir since May 10. The actual number of casualties is likely much higher, as many injured civilians in the north, east, and south of the city have been unable to reach medical facilities.
Compounding the crisis, the RSF has accused the Sudanese army of using civilians as human shields and conducting extensive airstrikes, including the destruction of al-Fashir’s power station.
Melissa Enoch
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