At least 300 civilians were killed in attacks by Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on refugee camps in Darfur, Sudan over the weekend, according to the United Nations.
The attacks on Friday and Saturday around Zamzam and Abu Shuq’s evacuation camps and El Fascher city also drove around 400,000 people, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a report released Monday that it cited unverified “local sources.”
As Sudan celebrated the rigorous second anniversary of the Civil War, the numbers celebrated their sinful second anniversary, including reports of atrocities and hunger that are said to be the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Among those killed in the attack were 10 humanitarian officials from Relief International Sudan, who ran one of the last functional health centres in Zamzam, the UN said.
Satellite images showed buildings and smoke burning at the camp on Friday.
By Sunday, the RSF was in control of the Zamzam camp. The UN reported that assaults have driven away 60,000 to 80,000 households, or up to 400,000 households.
The war broke out on April 15, 2023 amid the power struggle between the military government and the RSF.
According to the UN report, at least 20,000 people have been killed, 13 million people have been displaced, and around 4 million people have crossed their neighboring countries.
Both the Army and the RSF are accused of atrocities and war crimes.
Last month, the Sudanese Army (SAF) achieved a major victory over the RSF after reclaiming its capital Khartoum. It draws more attacks from the RSF, which controls almost everything in the Darfur region, threatening the possible division of the country.
RSF claims that the Samzam Camp is being used as a hub for groups located in the SAF.
In a video shared by the paramilitary forces, RSF deputy commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagallo, also known as Hemetti, can be seen talking to a small group of displaced people, promising food, water, medical care and return to their homes.
Reporting from Ombada, Aljiba Morgan said even within Khartoum that the troops are still operating to find the remaining RSF fighters before moving forward into other regions.
“Khartoum’s Regaining took the battle from the streets to the road for nearly two years,” Morgan reported.
The RSF also accelerated a drone attack at the Atbara Power Station on Monday, cutting off power to Port Sudan’s wartime capital.
A tough anniversary
“Two years after the devastating war, Sudan is at stake with incredible proportions, with civilians paying the highest prices,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement released late Monday.
“Indiscriminate artillery and air attacks have been killed and continue to attack. Markets, hospitals, schools, places of worship and shelters are being attacked. Sexual violence is ramping, and women and girls are being exposed to horrifying behavior.
The camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk evacuate about 700,000 people who fled the house, and are struck by hunger, and the aid workers are unable to reach them for the fight.
Half of Sudan’s population of 50 million will become hungry. Food programs around the world have confirmed hunger in 10 locations, which say could spread, putting millions at risk of starvation.
“This abominable conflict has been going on for two years and long,” said Kashif Shafik, country director of Relief International Sudan.
“Every time we wait, more life depends on balance,” he added, calling on the world to secure a ceasefire for what we call “forgotten war.”
The UK announced on Tuesday that it would donate $158 million in new aid from Sudan as it launched an international conference focusing on humanitarian assistance in the attacked country.
The conference will also discuss finding a “path” to peace as fears grow that the conflict could ripple over Sudan’s boundaries and create further instability in poor African regions.
However, the Sudanian government complains that it has not been invited to attend.
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