Residents of the Zamzam camp in Sudan are enduring a harrowing situation as violent attacks on the facility, which houses hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals, have persisted for a third consecutive day. Describing the circumstances as “extremely catastrophic,” one resident articulated the dire need for aid and safety amidst the chaos.
Over 100 civilians, including at least 20 children and members of a medical team, have reportedly lost their lives due to a series of assaults that commenced late last week in the western Darfur region. The United Nations has attributed these attacks to the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has denied responsibility, claiming that reports of these atrocities are fabrications.
Desperate conditions in the camps
The Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps provide temporary shelter for more than 700,000 individuals, many of whom are grappling with famine-like conditions. As news of the attacks emerges, the timing is particularly poignant, coinciding with the second anniversary of the civil war between the RSF and the Sudanese army.
In a message shared with the BBC, Mustafa, a 34-year-old resident who assists at a community kitchen, recounted the tragic losses among young people in the camp. He shared, “Those who were working in the community kitchen have been killed, and the doctors who were part of the initiative to reopen the hospital were also killed. My uncle and my cousin were killed. People are wounded, and there is no medicine or hospital to save them – they are dying from bleeding. The shelling is still ongoing, and we are expecting more attacks in the morning.” He emphasized the dire situation, noting that the camp is encircled and routes for escape have been blocked.
International reactions and the humanitarian crisis
Another resident, identified as Wasir, lamented that “nothing [was] left in Zamzam.” He reported that many had fled the camp, but attempts to leave had been thwarted due to blocked roads. He described the overwhelming sense of despair: “Death is everywhere.”
Reports indicate that some residents have managed to journey the 15 kilometers (approximately nine miles) to the town of El-Fasher. North Darfur’s Health Minister, Ibrahim Khater, noted the sight of numerous people, including children, women, and the elderly, making their way to safety, many appearing injured or exhausted from their ordeal.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, expressed her shock at the escalating violence, stating that it represents “yet another deadly and unacceptable escalation in a series of brutal attacks on displaced people and aid workers.” The U.S. State Department echoed these concerns, condemning the RSF’s actions against vulnerable civilians.
Aid organization Relief International reported that nine of its workers, including medical staff, were killed in the attacks on Zamzam. The charity alleged that RSF fighters were behind these targeted attacks on health infrastructure, claiming they aimed to obstruct access to medical care for the internally displaced. Kashif Shafique, the organization’s director for Sudan, relayed harrowing accounts from survivors, detailing how RSF fighters executed victims in a safety bunker.
As violence continues to escalate, assessments from Yale University indicate that the recent attacks signify one of the most significant ground offensives on Zamzam since hostilities reignited in El-Fasher. These actions contribute to what has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over 12 million people displaced and struggling with food insecurity.
The ongoing conflict, which erupted on April 15, 2023, stems from a power struggle between military factions and has seen El-Fasher remain under siege, marking a year of turmoil for the region.