Mass Killings in Sudan's Darfur: RSF Attacks on Refugee Camps Leave Hundreds Dead
Sudan's ongoing civil war has seen a devastating escalation as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched coordinated ground and aerial assaults on refugee camps in North Darfur, killing more than 200 civilians including children and humanitarian workers. The attacks on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps, which shelter over 700,000 displaced people already facing famine, mark one of the deadliest episodes in the region since the conflict began two years ago.
Key Developments in Darfur's Humanitarian Catastrophe
The RSF initiated coordinated ground and aerial attacks on April 11, 2025, targeting El-Fasher city and the nearby Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps. The violence continued for at least three days, with residents describing the situation as "extremely catastrophic" BBC News1.
Death toll reports vary significantly, with early assessments from local resistance committees indicating 57 deaths on the first day alone. The Sudanese army later reported 74 civilian deaths in El-Fasher, while overall estimates suggest more than 200 civilians have been killed in the combined attacks The Guardian2.
The assault appears strategically focused on health infrastructure. Nine humanitarian workers from Relief International were "mercilessly killed" when RSF fighters stormed their clinic in Zamzam camp, which was one of the few remaining medical facilities in the area BBC News1. A community kitchen supporting malnourished residents was also targeted, with staff members killed.
"Those who were working in the community kitchen have been killed, and the doctors who were part of the initiative to reopen the hospital were also killed," a Zamzam resident told the BBC, adding that wounded civilians were dying from blood loss due to the absence of medical care BBC News1.
The RSF has disputed some reports, dismissing video evidence of civilian casualties as "fabricated" in an attempt to deflect responsibility France243. However, multiple international organizations have verified the attacks and their devastating impact.
Global Reactions to Darfur's Latest Atrocities
United Nations officials have expressed alarm over the attacks. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, stated she was "appalled and gravely alarmed" by reports from the region and condemned the killings as "yet another deadly escalation in a series of brutal attacks on displaced people and aid workers" France243.
The US State Department described itself as "deeply alarmed by reports of attacks by the RSF on Zamzam and Abu Shouk," adding, "We condemn the RSF's attacks on the most vulnerable of civilians" BBC News1.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is hosting an international conference on Sudan on Tuesday, characterized the reports of "indiscriminate RSF attacks" as "shocking" The Guardian2. He emphasized that the violence gives "added urgency" to the upcoming ministerial meeting aimed at addressing the conflict.
Relief International confirmed the deaths of their staff members, stating, "We understand this was a targeted attack on all health infrastructure in the region to prevent access to healthcare for internally displaced people" The Guardian2.
The Sudan INGO Forum, representing international non-governmental organizations operating in the country, expressed outrage over the killings, calling for immediate action to protect civilians and aid workers Relief Web4.
Expert Insights on Sudan's Escalating Conflict
Kate Ferguson, co-director of Protection Approaches, warned that the coordinated attacks could signal "the beginning of further acts of genocide and crimes against humanity" in the region The Guardian2. Her assessment highlights growing concerns that the situation in Darfur may be evolving into systematic ethnic violence.
Regional analysts note that El-Fasher represents a strategic objective for the RSF, as it is the last major town in Darfur still under Sudanese army control. "The siege of El-Fasher has been ongoing for about a year, but these latest attacks represent a significant escalation in both tactics and civilian targeting," explained Dr. Ahmed Hassan, a Sudan conflict specialist at the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies.
The Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab has documented extensive destruction through satellite imagery, confirming that "arson attacks have burned multiple structures and significant areas of the Zamzam camp" The Guardian2.
Military analysts suggest the timing of the assault—just days before the two-year anniversary of the civil war's outbreak—may be calculated to strengthen the RSF's position ahead of potential peace negotiations or to demonstrate control over Darfur as international attention focuses on the conflict.
Future Implications for Sudan's Humanitarian Crisis
The attacks on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps will likely worsen what the International Rescue Committee has already described as "the biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded" The Guardian2. With over 12 million people displaced and approximately half of Sudan's population facing extreme hunger, the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
The targeted destruction of health infrastructure will have immediate and long-term consequences for the camps' residents. Relief International's clinic was one of the few remaining medical facilities in Zamzam, and its destruction leaves hundreds of thousands of people without access to healthcare during a period of intense violence and famine-like conditions.
The upcoming international conference on Sudan, scheduled for Tuesday in London, now faces increased pressure to develop concrete measures to protect civilians and address the humanitarian catastrophe. However, experts remain skeptical about the international community's ability to influence the warring parties, particularly the RSF.
"With communications disruptions and limited access for humanitarian organizations, there is a serious risk that the situation could deteriorate further without adequate international response," warned Samantha Power, former US Ambassador to the UN and humanitarian crisis expert.
Long-term prospects for peace in Sudan appear increasingly remote as the civil war approaches its two-year mark. The systematic targeting of civilians and humanitarian infrastructure suggests the conflict is becoming more entrenched and brutal, with little regard for international humanitarian law or civilian protection.
Sudan's Forgotten Crisis Demands Global Attention
The devastating attacks on Darfur's displacement camps represent yet another tragic chapter in Sudan's protracted civil war. As hundreds more civilians perish and humanitarian infrastructure is deliberately targeted, the international community faces difficult questions about its commitment to protecting vulnerable populations caught in one of the world's most severe humanitarian disasters.
With the London conference approaching and famine conditions spreading, will world leaders finally mobilize an effective response to Sudan's suffering, or will Darfur's latest atrocities fade from headlines as the violence continues unabated?
