Waves of displaced Sudanese civilians arrived in Tawila, a town in North Darfur, on Saturday after brutal assaults carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated militias ravaged camps and surrounding areas. The latest violence marks a grim escalation in the civil conflict that has devastated Sudan for nearly two years.
The RSF launched coordinated attacks on Friday targeting the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps, as well as the nearby city of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province. The assault, which continued into Saturday, resulted in more than 100 deaths, including 20 children and nine humanitarian aid workers, according to a United Nations official.
El-Fasher remains under the control of Sudan’s military, which has been engaged in a fierce battle with the RSF since the country plunged into civil war. The ongoing conflict has already claimed the lives of over 24,000 people, according to UN estimates, though local groups believe the actual toll may be significantly higher.
The General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees, a grassroots organization based in Darfur, reported that approximately 2,400 individuals were forced to flee in the wake of the latest assault. Many of them are now seeking refuge in Tawila and other nearby towns, adding to the already overwhelming humanitarian crisis in the region.
Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps together house over 700,000 displaced people — many of whom were previously forced to flee earlier waves of conflict in Darfur. These camps have long been considered among the most vulnerable zones in the country. Their situation has become even more dire after being classified as famine-stricken areas by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global food insecurity tracking organization.
The ongoing war has plunged Sudan into what international observers describe as the world’s largest humanitarian disaster. Currently, nearly 25 million people — half of the country’s population — face acute hunger and limited access to essential services.
While the Sudanese military recently reclaimed control over Khartoum in what was hailed as a symbolic victory, large parts of the country, including vast swathes of Darfur, remain firmly under RSF control. This latest attack underscores the persistent volatility and the immense human toll of the ongoing civil conflict.
As the situation deteriorates, humanitarian agencies are calling for immediate international intervention to prevent further loss of life and to address the worsening food insecurity that threatens millions more.
