In the wake of a violent assault on Zamzam camp, internally displaced families are fleeing towards Tawila, enduring dangers such as robbery and hunger. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to contend for control in Darfur, leaving communities devastated and in urgent need of assistance.
Desperate Exodus: Internally Displaced Families Struggle for Safety Amid Sudan Conflict
Desperate Exodus: Internally Displaced Families Struggle for Safety Amid Sudan Conflict
As conflict escalates in Sudan, the residents of Zamzam camp face harrowing journeys to escape violence and destruction, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
In a recently reported incident, the residents of Zamzam camp in Sudan, already struggling with impoverished conditions, found themselves forced to flee after a brutal attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The camp, home to around 700,000 internally displaced individuals, was the largest of its kind in Sudan, offering a fragile sense of shelter following years of conflict in the Darfur region.
The RSF, embroiled in a power struggle with the Sudanese army, targeted Zamzam in a bid to seize the nearby city of el-Fasher. Despite the RSF claiming no involvement in reported atrocities, the camp has been described as "completely destroyed," according to North Darfur Health Minister Ibrahim Khater.
Among those escaping was Fathiya Mohammed, a mother of two who endured a four-day trek to Tawila, carrying her children and possessions on foot. Tragically, she lost her husband in the chaos of fleeing. "I was carrying one child on my back, another in my arms, and luggage on my head," she recounted to the BBC. Her journey was fraught with dangers, including robbery by thieves who preyed on vulnerable residents attempting to reach safety.
Medical organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports that tens of thousands have made their way from Zamzam to Tawila, where medical facilities are overwhelmed with injured survivors. "In just two days, more than 20,000 people have sought treatment," noted MSF, as the situation deteriorates further. Patients suffering from gunshot wounds are being treated regularly, with distressing accounts emerging from survivors.
The RSF has remained largely unresponsive to specific allegations regarding the violence during the attack, while satellite imagery indicates the extent of devastation at the camp. Survivors like Hussein Khamis, who was shot in the leg during the raid, have faced additional peril, struggling to reach medical aid amid the chaos.
Zamzam, established in 2004 as a refuge for those fleeing ethnic violence, has once again become a focal point of devastation amidst Sudan’s ongoing conflict. With the RSF’s control extending over much of western Sudan, including Darfur, fears are escalating about the potential fracturing of the nation as the RSF considers establishing a parallel government.
Fathiya Mohammed encapsulated the sentiment of many displaced individuals when she expressed a simple but profound desire: "We want the war to stop. Peace is the most important thing." As humanitarian efforts strive to address the crisis, the plight of families in this conflict continues to evolve, reflecting the deep-rooted issues facing Sudan.
