A recent assault on a displacement camp in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region has drawn sharp condemnation from United Nations officials, as civilians face escalating violence and catastrophic hunger. At least 40 people were killed and 19 injured during a large-scale attack on Abu Shouk camp in El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur, according to local sources. The assault, reportedly carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday, targeted an area already grappling with famine and severe resource shortages.
Sheldon Yett, the UN’s acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, described the incident as part of a broader pattern of civilian suffering in the region. “Once again, civilians are paying the highest price in this conflict,” he said, condemning the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law. Abu Shouk, home to thousands displaced by Sudan’s protracted conflict, now faces blocked exit routes, leaving residents trapped under siege with dwindling access to food, clean water, and medical care.
The crisis has reached alarming new levels, with reports indicating over 60 deaths from malnutrition in El Fasher in just one week—most victims being women and children. The city, a critical hub for humanitarian operations, has seen aid deliveries severely disrupted by intensified fighting between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces. Yett emphasized the urgent need for safe passage for civilians wishing to flee and called for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow life-saving supplies to reach those stranded.
The UN’s appeal echoes broader international concerns about the collapse of civilian protections in Sudan’s 15-month civil war. Parties to the conflict are legally obligated to avoid targeting non-combatants, displacement camps, and critical infrastructure, yet attacks on these spaces have become routine. El Fasher’s strategic importance has turned it into a focal point of violence, exacerbating what aid groups describe as one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
With over 10 million people displaced nationwide and 25 million requiring assistance, the situation in Darfur underscores the devastating intersection of armed conflict and climate-driven food insecurity. Yett reiterated calls for unrestricted humanitarian access and adherence to international law, warning that further delays in aid could lead to “unthinkable loss of life.” As diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires stall, civilians in El Fasher and beyond remain caught in a cycle of violence and deprivation, with no clear path to safety.
