Desperation in Sudan: Fleeing Displaced Families Resort to Eating Leaves and Charcoal

Survivors of recent attacks are resorting to extreme measures for survival, highlighting the urgent need for assistance in Darfur.

Sudanese families fleeing violence have now resorted to consuming leaves and charcoal in a desperate bid to survive, as the humanitarian crisis in the region escalates following an attack on the Zamzam camp for displaced persons, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Noah Taylor, the organization's head of operations, detailed the horrifying experiences of those trying to escape the violence surrounding el-Fasher. Many residents are making the perilous 40-kilometer journey to Tawila, facing extreme temperatures and life-threatening conditions. Taylor reported that some individuals are "dying of thirst," with harrowing accounts of death occurring en route.

A particularly tragic instance involved a young girl who attempted to travel alone from el-Fasher but faced numerous assaults during her journey and succumbed to her injuries upon her arrival in Tawila. El-Fasher remains the only city in Sudan's western region of Darfur under military control, a stark contrast to the devastation caused by ongoing conflict. The paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) recently attacked the Zamzam camp, forcing a mass exodus from the area. Many of the residents of Zamzam, who had taken refuge there for two decades from earlier conflicts, are now displaced yet again.

The RSF has been engaged in a violent struggle against the army over the past two years, resulting in significant loss of life and the displacement of approximately 13 million people. Aid organizations have declared this to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today. Following the destruction of the Zamzam camp, North Darfur's Health Minister, Ibrahim Khater, confirmed that the camp had been "completely destroyed." However, the influx of displaced people into Tawila has overwhelmed the town, which is now housing between 130,000 and 150,000 individuals, according to Taylor. He stressed the crucial shortage of food and water resources in the area.

Eyewitnesses fleeing from Zamzam have reported that their homes were set on fire and that they were fired upon during their escape. While the RSF acknowledges their involvement in the assault on the camp, they deny any allegations of committing atrocities. The situation remains dire as the international community continues to grapple with the plight of those affected by this prolonged conflict.