The RSF shelling of a displacement camp in North Darfur killed six individuals, adding to the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by ongoing conflict. As the RSF maintains a siege on El-Fasher, increasing casualties and famine conditions threaten over 12 million displaced persons, with dire food insecurity affecting two million people.
On Wednesday, paramilitary shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted a displacement camp suffering from famine near El-Fasher, North Darfur, resulting in six fatalities, according to local activists. This action is part of an ongoing conflict between the RSF and the regular army that has been raging since April 2023. The attack on the Abu Shouk camp occurred as civilians were acquiring Ramadan supplies, illustrating the dire circumstances faced by those in the region.
The local resistance committee reported that the RSF began its assault on the camp on Sunday, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan. This was a continuation of a previous day’s artillery fire, which reportedly left 80 individuals injured, although exact casualty figures remain unconfirmed. Rescuers noted that the shells struck a busy market area near the camp, exacerbating the crisis.
The RSF continues to maintain a siege on El-Fasher, the last state capital in Darfur under army control, leading to ongoing conflict marked by heavy civilian casualties. While the RSF dominates much of Darfur, the army manages the eastern and northern portions of the country, receiving some territorial gains in Khartoum. The violence has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 12 million people, creating what the International Rescue Committee describes as the “biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded”.
In North Darfur, nearly 1.7 million individuals have been displaced, and approximately two million people are confronting extreme food insecurity. Current UN estimates indicate that 320,000 individuals are already experiencing famine conditions. Three displacement camps around El-Fasher—Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al-Salam—are severely affected, with the possibility of famine expanding to five additional areas by May.
In summary, the recent shelling by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from months of conflict. The targeting of civilians seeking basic necessities during Ramadan emphasizes the detrimental impact of the war on the population. With millions displaced and widespread famine conditions worsening, the situation in Darfur demands urgent attention and response.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
