Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Over 1 Million Displaced People Endure Miserable Lives Under Open Sky Amid Violence and Famine

Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Over 1 Million Displaced People Endure Miserable Lives Under Open Sky Amid Violence and Famine

The recent attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Zamzam camp in Sudan's Darfur region has put the lives of thousands at risk. After the assault, thousands of people fled to the town of Tawila, which was already facing food shortages.

Sarah, a 22-year-old literature student who had lived in the Zamzam camp for years, said, "We never thought we would have to flee, but the RSF's attack turned the Zamzam camp into a 'killing field'." She explained how shelling and gunfire tore apart her shelter. "Bombs were falling on our houses. Bodies were lying on the streets. There was no way we could stay," she told AFP.

To reach Tawila, Sarah and her family of 10 walked for days. "People were attacked and robbed on the road. A young man was killed," Sarah added. For her safety, she requested anonymity.

Zamzam camp, which was home to 500,000 people, has now swollen to an estimated 1 million people. The camp became a refuge for displaced people across Darfur since the war began in April 2023 between the army and RSF.

On Tuesday, the RSF launched an attack on the Zamzam camp, setting fire to the main market. Witnesses said many houses were burned in the flames. Under a UN-backed food security assessment, famine was declared in Sudan in August. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed significant damage at the eastern entrance of the camp, where RSF clashed with army-backed militias.

Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab indicated that the arson and structural damage in Zamzam might be evidence of an "intentional ground attack." The Darfur General Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees stated, "The camp's streets have turned into killing fields, filled with blood and body parts. Fires have engulfed homes, and screams mix with the sound of bullets."

RSF claimed it conducted "swift operations to liberate the displaced people" in Zamzam, which it alleged had become a "military base" for the army-backed militia. However, no confirmed death toll has been released due to the ongoing war in Sudan.

Without food or money, Sarah and other displaced people are sleeping on the open steppe. "We ran away with just the clothes we were wearing. We have nothing, not even a blanket to cover ourselves when we sleep," Sarah said.

This tragic situation signals more danger for the displaced people in Sudan.