An alarming assault by the Rapid Support Forces on a market in Sudan's Abu Shouk camp highlights the devastating impact of ongoing violence against displaced individuals during Ramadan. The situation continues to deteriorate as humanitarian needs escalate.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Sudan as Shelling Targets Displaced Camp
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Sudan as Shelling Targets Displaced Camp
Heavy artillery strikes on a crowded market in North Darfur have led to a rising death toll, with many casualties among the displaced population in a chaotic ongoing conflict.
In a tragic escalation of violence in Sudan, dozens are feared dead in North Darfur after heavy shelling struck a market located within the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons. This assault, executed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday evening, targeted the camp during its busiest period, just as many in the community were preparing to break their fast for Ramadan. Local officials reported that the shelling lasted approximately two hours, contributing to a growing sense of fear among the camp's over half a million residents, many of whom have already been uprooted from their homes due to ongoing conflict.
The recent attack follows another tragic incident on Sunday, where RSF forces shelled the very same camp, resulting in the deaths of at least six civilians, according to local health volunteers. Dr. Ibrahim Nadyan, a medic working in the last standing hospital in el-Fasher, confirmed that many people sustained injuries ranging from mild to critical during the latest bombardment.
El-Fasher, the last major town in Darfur still under army control, has been under siege for nearly a year amidst ongoing conflict between the RSF and Sudan's military forces. The violence, which erupted in April 2023, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, with the specter of famine looming over many communities. Humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, have expressed grave concerns about the atrocities committed by both the RSF and the military, with specific allegations of genocide against non-Arab groups within the Darfur region.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, the international community has been called upon to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where the divide between RSF-controlled regions and army-held territories exacerbates the suffering of countless civilians caught in the conflict.
