Local rescue workers in North Darfur reported that RSF fighters stormed a displacement camp on Monday, killing more than 40 civilians and injuring at least 19. Survivors described the incident as a sudden, heavily armed assault on a camp already suffering from extreme food shortages. Aid officials say the attack targeted one of the most vulnerable communities in the region, where many residents rely entirely on humanitarian assistance for survival.

The RSF — a powerful paramilitary group originally formed from the Janjaweed militias — has been locked in a brutal conflict with Sudan’s national army since April 2023. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, but rights groups say RSF attacks on civilians, especially in Darfur, have been systematic and often ethnically targeted.

Famine and Disease Compound Crisis

The attack comes as the camp’s residents face acute famine conditions. The United Nations and local humanitarian organisations have warned for months that food supplies are running out, with malnutrition levels soaring, particularly among children.

Tawila, a nearby town that has become a hub for displaced families, is now confronting a fast-spreading cholera outbreak. Hosting more than 500,000 people who fled fighting, the town’s water and sanitation systems have collapsed under the strain. Health workers report a shortage of treatment centres, medical supplies, and safe water.

“The situation is catastrophic,” said one aid worker, who requested anonymity due to security concerns. “People are dying from hunger, disease, and violence, and there’s very little we can do because access is blocked and resources are gone.”

Conflict’s Humanitarian Toll

Sudan’s civil war, now in its third year, has displaced more than 10 million people internally and forced hundreds of thousands to flee into neighbouring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. In Darfur, a region with a long history of conflict and mass displacement, the latest violence marks a dangerous escalation in attacks against civilians.

Humanitarian organisations have faced mounting challenges in reaching affected areas. RSF and army checkpoints, looting of aid convoys, and active combat zones have hindered deliveries of food, water, and medicine. International funding shortfalls have further crippled relief efforts, with the UN’s Sudan appeal severely underfunded for 2025.