Up to 400,000 displaced after RSF takes control of Zamzam camp

Sudan has witnessed a significant deterioration in humanitarian conditions following a takeover of the Zamzam camp in North Darfur by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The camp, which was home to around 700,000 internally displaced persons, has faced escalating violence amid the ongoing civil war, which started in April 2023 over a power struggle between the army and the RSF. Data from the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration indicates that as many as 400,000 people have been displaced within a matter of days due to the RSF's attacks. The RSF's takeover involved a violent assault over four days, resulting in hundreds of casualties, including civilians and humanitarian workers. Reports suggest that the camp is now completely destroyed, exacerbating the already dire living conditions for those who have fled their homes due to decades of conflict in the Darfur region. Witness accounts detail harrowing experiences of those who managed to escape from Zamzam, describing the chaotic scenes as they fled with children and meager belongings. Many individuals were left injured, and some were robbed during their attempts to make their way to safer areas. The humanitarian situation in the surrounding regions has become increasingly challenging as facilities become overwhelmed with the sudden influx of displaced people seeking medical attention and shelter. Organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have reported treating numerous individuals for serious injuries as new arrivals pour in seeking critical care. Conditions within the Zamzam camp had already been desperate due to chronic poverty and food scarcity, which worsened as the conflict raged on. The RSF has and continues to deny allegations of atrocities occurring in the camp, while humanitarian efforts struggle to provide for the needs of those displaced. The ongoing conflict has accelerated previous warnings from rights groups about the potential for widespread atrocities if the RSF gained control of key areas like Zamzam. As the RSF consolidates its power in the region, the international community remains alarmed by the mounting suffering and loss of life. Continued violence not only increases the number of displaced persons but also complicates the delivery of humanitarian aid, threatening both the immediate and long-term recovery of affected communities in Darfur and beyond.