Over 100 civilians killed in brutal assaults in Darfur

In Sudan’s Darfur region, coordinated attacks by paramilitary forces have resulted in a catastrophic loss of life among civilians. The violence escalated on April 12, 2025, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the city of El-Fasher, alongside nearby camps that house thousands of internally displaced persons suffering from severe famine. The assaults on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps were particularly devastating, with over 100 individuals reported dead, including numerous children and frontline health workers, as confirmed by the United Nations. The context of this tragedy stems from ongoing power struggles between the RSF and Sudan’s regular army, which have plunged the country into civil conflict since April 2023. The RSF has been increasingly aggressive in its operations, particularly since the army's recapture of the national capital, Khartoum, earlier in the month. The situation in El-Fasher, being the last major town in Darfur under army control, has made it a target for the RSF as they seek to expand their influence, leading to severe humanitarian crises affecting more than 12 million people. Humanitarian organizations have condemned the attacks vehemently. Relief International reported that multiple staff members, including doctors, were tragically killed while trying to provide essential medical assistance within the overrun clinic. These attacks are not isolated incidents but represent a series of atrocities against vulnerable populations that the international community has repeatedly called unacceptable. As reported by survivors in the camps, the conditions have become increasingly dire; displaced families are facing starvation amid ongoing violence. With roads blocked and resources scarce, community members are powerless to escape the assault or secure the medical care they desperately need. The humanitarian channel that these camps once represented has been shattered, exacerbating suffering in a region already grappling with one of the world's most pressing humanitarian crises.