Violent Strike by RSF Leads to the Death of 40 Individuals in a Displacement Camp in Darfur
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese government forces (Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur has claimed yet another tragic casualty, as an attack on the Abu Shouk refugee camp near El Fasher resulted in the deaths of at least 40 civilians and injuries to 19 others on August 11, 2025 [2][3][5].
The RSF, a paramilitary group embroiled in a two-year civil war with the Sudanese army, has been accused of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur, charges it vehemently denies [1]. This latest assault on Abu Shouk, home to around 200,000 people, is a grim reminder of the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
The attack on Abu Shouk IDP camp involved indiscriminate violence, with many victims reportedly deliberately targeted, either shot inside their homes or gunned down in public [2][3][5]. Local emergency responders and the UN condemned these attacks as serious violations of international humanitarian law. The RSF left only narrow escape routes, with many civilians killed or arrested when trying to flee.
Abu Shouk camp shelters non-Arab communities such as the Fur and Zaghawa who fled earlier attacks by the Janjaweed militia. Reports suggest that the attack in Abu Shouk may have deliberately targeted Zaghawa civilians [4].
El Fasher, the last government-held city in North Darfur, has been under siege by the RSF since April 2024. The siege and repeated RSF assaults have caused massive civilian displacement and suffering, leading to severe famine conditions. The population faces acute shortages of food, healthcare, and emergency assistance [1][3][4].
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has declared El Fasher and surrounding camps in IPC Phase 5, indicating full-blown famine, with extreme hunger leading families to eat animal feed residue, and malnutrition-related deaths are rising, including among children [2][3].
The United Nations and humanitarian actors have repeatedly condemned the attacks and called for urgent humanitarian pauses to allow safe passage for civilians and delivery of aid. However, safe corridors remain blocked amid ongoing hostilities [3][5].
The conflict between the SAF and RSF has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and the displacement of more than 14 million people across Sudan, with Darfur being one of the worst-affected regions [1][4]. The situation remains critical, with civilians trapped, starving, and exposed to continuous violence with no safe exit or relief in sight [2][3][5].
In a bid to defend El-Fasher, Zaghawa fighters have joined the army. The humanitarian situation in El-Fasher and the surrounding areas is dire, with the city facing heavy bombardment in recent days. Camps near El-Fasher have been repeatedly hit during the war, with more than 100 people killed when the RSF overran the Zamzam camp in April 2025 [4].
The international community must urgently intervene to bring an end to this brutal conflict and ensure the safety and well-being of the civilians caught in the crossfire. The world cannot stand by while innocent lives are lost and communities are torn apart.
- The ongoing conflict in Darfur, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is part of a two-year civil war that has been accused of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
- The recent attack on the Abu Shouk refugee camp has been condemned as serious violations of international humanitarian law, with many civilians deliberately targeted and killed.
- Reports suggest that the attack in Abu Shouk may have been a targeted assault on the Zaghawa community who have sought refuge at the camp.
- The situation in El Fasher, the last government-held city in North Darfur, is critical, with the city facing heavy bombardment, severe famine conditions due to food, healthcare, and emergency assistance shortages, and the population at risk of malnutrition-related deaths.
- The international community must urgently intervene to end the conflict, ensure the safety and well-being of civilians, and prevent further tragedies and humanitarian crises in Sudan. This intervention could involve addressing aspects such as history, general news, politics, crime and justice, entertainment, business, science, war and conflicts, and ensuring that the needs of all affected communities are met.
