Recent paramilitary shelling in North Darfur’s Abu Shouk camp resulted in six fatalities. The RSF continues its assault amidst a humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and facing food insecurity in the region. The situation is dire as humanitarian needs escalate.
On Wednesday, activists reported that paramilitary shelling of a famine-stricken displacement camp near El-Fasher, North Darfur’s besieged capital, resulted in the death of six people. The attack was carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in a conflict with the regular army since April 2023. The local resistance committee, one of the many volunteer organizations facilitating aid in Sudan, highlighted the incident, which occurred during Ramadan, when civilians were shopping for supplies.
A day prior to the latest casualties, the local group indicated that artillery fire had led to approximately 80 casualties, although precise numbers of fatalities and injuries remain unverified. The RSF’s offensive against the Abu Shouk camp commenced on Sunday, marking a continuation of their extended siege of El-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under army control.
Civilians in El-Fasher continue to endure the consequences of ongoing fighting, with the regular army and allied forces repelling repeated RSF assaults. The RSF now controls most of Darfur, while the army maintains authority over the eastern and northern parts of the country. Significant territorial gains have been made by the army in the capital, Khartoum, and central Sudan this year.
The ongoing war has resulted in numerous fatalities, displacing over 12 million individuals and being declared the most severe humanitarian crisis recorded, according to the International Rescue Committee. In North Darfur specifically, an estimated 1.7 million people are now displaced due to the conflict.
The United Nations has reported that roughly two million individuals are facing extreme food insecurity, with 320,000 suffering from famine conditions. Famine has particularly affected three displacement camps surrounding El-Fasher: Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al-Salam, raising concerns about its potential spread to five additional areas, including El-Fasher itself, by May.
The recent shelling of the Abu Shouk camp represents a tragic continuation of violence in Sudan amid an escalating humanitarian crisis. The RSF’s persistent attacks underscore the dire conditions faced by civilians, who are disproportionately affected by the conflict. With millions displaced and facing famine, urgent international support is necessary to address the unfolding catastrophe and provide relief to those in need.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
