The Sudanese state of North Darfur is reeling from a devastating attack on a camp for displaced people, with fears rising of multiple fatalities. The heart-wrenching incident unfolded as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a relentless assault on a bustling market at Abu Shouk, a camp located on the outskirts of the city of el-Fasher. According to a local official who spoke to the BBC, the onslaught lasted for nearly two harrowing hours on a fateful Tuesday evening.
Abu Shouk, home to over half a million displaced individuals, was plunged into chaos as the RSF’s aggression targeted its market for the second time in just three days. El-Fasher, the final bastion under army control in Darfur, has been besieged by the RSF for close to a year, amplifying the plight of its beleaguered residents. The timing of Tuesday’s assault could not have been more poignant, occurring during the peak hours of activity when the camp’s predominantly Muslim population, observing the sanctity of Ramadan, were out shopping to prepare for their evening meal.
The repercussions of the shelling were profound, with Dr. Ibrahim Nadyan, a dedicated medic at el-Fasher’s sole operational hospital, reporting a surge in injuries ranging from mild to severe. Tragically, this was not the first instance of violence to scar Abu Shouk, as the RSF had launched a previous attack on Sunday that claimed the lives of six innocent civilians, as confirmed by local health volunteers. Despite these atrocities, the RSF has maintained a deafening silence, refusing to acknowledge their role in the bloodshed that has stained the region.
Since the eruption of conflict in April 2023, the toll of war in Sudan has been staggering, with tens of thousands losing their lives, millions forced into displacement, and a looming threat of famine haunting the populace. Both the RSF and the army have faced grave accusations of perpetrating heinous acts, with the former specifically accused of perpetrating a genocide in Darfur targeting non-Arabic communities.
The scars of this brutal conflict have cleaved through the nation, with the army consolidating control over the northern and eastern territories, while the RSF asserts dominance over vast swathes of Darfur in the west and portions of the south. Recent skirmishes have seen the army making strategic gains, reclaiming parts of Khartoum and its environs from the clutches of the RSF, signaling a potential shift in the tides of power.
As the world watches with bated breath, the harrowing events unfolding in Sudan serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for intervention to quell the spiraling violence and protect the vulnerable populations caught in the crossfire. The aftermath of the market attack in Abu Shouk stands as a poignant testament to the resilience and suffering of the displaced people
