Sudan's paramilitary forces escalate deadly assaults on displacement camp
- Recent attacks on the Abo Shouk displacement camp in North Darfur have resulted in confirmed deaths and injuries.
- The camp, which shelters around 450,000 displaced individuals, has seen intensified violence from the Rapid Support Forces since Monday.
- The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a humanitarian crisis affecting millions, with calls for international intervention growing.
In Sudan, renewed attacks by paramilitary forces on the Abo Shouk displacement camp in North Darfur have led to at least two confirmed deaths and several injuries. This camp, which houses approximately 450,000 individuals displaced by ongoing conflict, has faced various attacks over the past 11 months. However, the recent violence has escalated significantly, particularly beginning on Monday, when artillery shelling was reported to be conducted indiscriminately by the Rapid Support Forces. Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur, confirmed the death toll and expressed concern over the increased frequency of the assaults. On Tuesday alone, four individuals were reported injured, although this number could be higher. Property destruction within the camp has also occurred as a result of the attacks, which officials from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have condemned. Since the outbreak of the war in Sudan in April 2023, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated severely, with over 14 million people displaced due to the violence between the military and the Rapid Support Forces. Reports suggest that the conflict has resulted in at least 20,000 deaths, though actual figures may be even higher. The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine, with humanitarian agencies warning that conditions continue to worsen. Darfur Governor Mini Arko Minawi publicly condemned the assaults through a statement, characterizing them as part of an intentional plan by the Rapid Support Forces to eradicate the residents of el-Fasher and surrounding displacement camps. The Sudanese military currently holds control over el-Fasher despite continuous attacks, raising concerns for ongoing stability and the safety of displaced populations. As the tension escalates, further humanitarian concerns emerge, prompting international bodies to express alarm regarding the dire and worsening conditions in Sudan.