Over 40 Dead in RSF Militia Attack on Sudanese Refugee Camp

A recent assault by the RSF militia on a refugee camp in Sudan has resulted in the deaths of over 40 individuals. The attack occurred at the Abu Schuk camp, located north of Al-Faschir, where at least 19 others were reported injured, according to the news agency AFP citing rescue personnel.

The militia targeted individuals within their shelters, as reported by the activist organization Emergency Response Rooms in a social media post. Representatives of the Resistance Committees, a local group that includes human rights activists, have corroborated these reports of violence.

Satellite images from the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University indicate that the RSF has obstructed several escape routes from Al-Faschir, exacerbating the crisis in the region.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan pits the military of ruler Abdel Fattah Burhan against the RSF militia, led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. While the northern and eastern parts of Sudan remain largely under military control, the RSF has established dominance over significant areas in the south and almost the entire western region of Darfur.

Al-Faschir represents the last major city in Darfur still under military governance. However, RSF fighters have besieged the city since May 2024, effectively cutting off access to humanitarian aid. In the past week alone, at least 63 individuals in the besieged city have died from starvation, with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warning that thousands more are at risk of famine.

The conflict in Sudan has precipitated one of the world's most severe hunger and refugee crises. According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, tens of thousands of people have lost their lives, and over 14 million have been forcibly displaced over the past two years. The Abu Schuk camp houses around 450,000 displaced individuals and has faced numerous attacks since the onset of the conflict.