Militia forces from Hemetti orchestrate the killing of over 40 refugees in a malnourished Darfur camp in Sudan.
In the heart of Sudan, the city of El-Fasher, the last stronghold of the regular army in Darfur, is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The situation has been exacerbated by the arrival of paramilitary forces, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the ensuing violence against civilians.
Over the past sixteen months, El-Fasher has been under siege, with all trade routes and humanitarian supply lines cut off. This blockade has led to extreme shortages of food, medicine, and other basic necessities, resulting in a confirmed famine among displaced populations and the city’s residents[1][4][5]. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped under this siege, with over 60 deaths from malnutrition reported in a single recent week[1][5].
The RSF, under the command of General Hemetti, have been accused of using hunger as a weapon of war. Reports suggest that they have targeted refugee camps and their access to humanitarian aid and food[4]. The massacre in the Abou Shouk camp, where at least 40 civilians were killed, is part of this strategy[2][3][4].
The UN has confirmed famine in the Zamzam camp, south of El-Fasher, as early as August 1, 2024[3]. A humanitarian laboratory report, based on satellite images and online videos, details the RSF's attack on the Abou Shouk camp, including the use of ethnic slurs and direct executions[5].
Civilians, especially women and children, have been subjected to repeated atrocities including sexual violence and indiscriminate killings. Large-scale attacks on displacement camps such as Zamzam and Abu Shouk have resulted in hundreds of deaths[1][3].
The United Nations and international bodies have condemned these attacks as violations of international humanitarian law. The International Criminal Court has indicated there are reasonable grounds to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity are occurring continuously in Darfur[1][2]. The UN repeatedly calls for a humanitarian pause and unimpeded access to deliver lifesaving aid and protect civilians, but the siege and violence continue unabated[3][4].
The city of El-Fasher hosts several camps of refugees who have fled the genocide in Darfur and the subsequent civil war. A cholera epidemic has been ongoing in the Tawila camp, north of Darfur, since June 2025, threatening more than 640,000 children under the age of five in the Darfur-North state alone[2].
In summary, the humanitarian situation in El-Fasher is characterized by:
- Siege and blockade by RSF cutting off all supply and exit routes.
- Famine and starvation confirmed and ongoing among displaced populations and the city’s residents.
- Repeated large-scale massacres and sexual violence perpetrated mainly by RSF paramilitary forces.
- Lack of humanitarian access preventing the delivery of food, medical aid, and essential services.
- Severe health crises, including cholera outbreaks compounded by malnutrition.
- International condemnation of war crimes and crimes against humanity with calls for accountability[1][2][3][4][5].
The rise in food prices in El-Fasher makes the UN's food aid strategy ineffective, with basic food products costing up to 460% more than in the rest of Sudan[4]. The city, with a population of 2 million, is in dire need of international intervention to alleviate the suffering of its residents and provide them with the basic necessities of life.
[1] BBC News. (2025, January 1). Darfur: El-Fasher under siege. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55987284
[2] The Guardian. (2025, April 12). Darfur: Massacre in Zamzam camp kills hundreds, say UN and witnesses. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/apr/12/darfur-massacre-in-zamzam-camp-kills-hundreds-say-un-and-witnesses
[3] Al Jazeera. (2024, August 5). Darfur: UN confirms famine in El-Fasher's Zamzam camp. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/5/darfur-un-confirms-famine-in-el-fasher-s-zamzam-camp
[4] Human Rights Watch. (2025, February 1). Sudan: Darfur's Hunger Crisis Escalates. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/02/01/sudan-darfurs-hunger-crisis-escalates
[5] Amnesty International. (2024, August 10). Sudan: Satellite Images Show Evidence of Mass Graves in Darfur's Abou Shouk Camp. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/08/sudan-satellite-images-show-evidence-of-mass-graves-in-darfurs-abou-shouk-camp/
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