More Than 200 Civilians Killed in Darfur as RSF Launches Brutal Attacks on Displacement Camps

Over 200 civilians have been killed in a series of coordinated assaults by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on displacement camps and surrounding areas in North Darfur, according to reports from international agencies and local sources.

The RSF, a powerful paramilitary group, intensified its offensive over the weekend, targeting the towns of Um Kadadah and El Fasher. Um Kadadah, situated approximately 180 kilometers east of El Fasher, fell to RSF forces last week, leading to the execution of at least 56 civilians.

Violence escalated further inside the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps, home to nearly 700,000 internally displaced persons. Ground and air attacks reportedly destroyed critical infrastructure, including medical facilities. Nine aid workers from Relief International, operating the only functioning clinic in Zamzam, were confirmed among the dead. The organization stated the attack was a deliberate strike on healthcare services for displaced civilians.

The United Nations condemned the attacks, citing verified accounts of arson and indiscriminate killings. Satellite data and on-ground reports confirm that large portions of Zamzam camp were set ablaze. Internet blackouts imposed by the RSF have made it difficult to verify the exact death toll, but estimates suggest that over 100 civilians, including 20 children, have died since April 11.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, expressed grave concern, labeling the violence as a major escalation.

The conflict in Sudan, which erupted nearly two years ago between the national army and RSF forces, has divided the country. While the army controls the northern and eastern regions, the RSF dominates Darfur and parts of the south. The ongoing civil war has led to more than 12 million people being displaced, with tens of thousands killed since 2023.