Paramilitary Shelling Victimizes Displaced in Sudan

The RSF shellings near El-Fasher resulted in six fatalities at a famine-stricken displacement camp. This incident is part of ongoing conflict, leading to widespread humanitarian crises, including significant displacement and food insecurity in North Darfur.

In a tragic incident, paramilitary shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of six individuals at a displacement camp suffering from famine near El-Fasher, North Darfur, as reported by local activists. This attack forms part of a brutal conflict between the RSF and the regular army that has persisted since April 2023.

The Abu Shouk camp became a target when civilians were shopping for Ramadan supplies, coinciding with the beginning of the holy month. Just one day prior, the local resistance committee reported 80 casualties from artillery shelling, although exact numbers of injuries remained unconfirmed. The ongoing RSF assault has coincided with a months-long siege of El-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under army control.

Continuous fighting around the city has put immense pressure on the local population, as the army and its allies defend against repeated RSF attacks, leading to extensive civilian suffering. The RSF currently controls the majority of Darfur, while the army secures the eastern and northern regions of Sudan, with territorial gains made in Khartoum and central Sudan this year.

The conflict has caused extensive humanitarian crises, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing over 12 million individuals, as reported by the International Rescue Committee. Specifically in North Darfur, approximately 1.7 million are now displaced, with around two million facing severe food insecurity. Conditions have deteriorated in three camps surrounding El-Fasher — namely Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al-Salam — and are predicted to affect five additional areas by May, according to United Nations assessments.

The recent paramilitary shelling near El-Fasher underscores the tragic humanitarian situation in Sudan, marked by intense conflict and severe famine. With the RSF’s ongoing siege and the resulting civilian casualties, the crisis in North Darfur exemplifies one of the most pressing humanitarian emergencies faced today. Immediate and sustained humanitarian aid is urgently required to alleviate suffering among the displaced and food-insecure communities in the region.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com