In a chilling development that underscores the escalating violence in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) declared they have seized control of the Zamzam camp for displaced people in North Darfur after a relentless four-day assault. This conflict, which has already resulted in hundreds of casualties, poses significant risks to the lives of those who were already vulnerable, further compounding the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

The Zamzam camp, located near the city of al-Fashir, along with the nearby Abu Shouk camp, has been a refuge for nearly 700,000 individuals who have fled the ongoing war in Sudan. However, reports from humanitarian organizations indicate that the RSF's aggressive tactics have devastated the area, leaving shelters in ruins, markets destroyed, and healthcare facilities incapacitated.

The RSF has claimed that their takeover was a necessary measure against what they termed "mercenary factions" allegedly using the camp as a base of operations. However, humanitarian groups have strongly condemned these actions, highlighting that the assault represents a direct attack on defenseless civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, who are already facing the threat of famine.

In the surrounding region, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)—a local militia allied with the national army—has been engaged in intense skirmishes with the RSF around al-Fashir, located approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from Zamzam. The SLA has received support from other local armed factions, intensifying the ongoing conflict.

As the violence escalates, tens of thousands of residents from the camp have been forced to flee toward al-Fashir on foot, creating a humanitarian disaster in the city where shelters are rapidly filling, leaving many without adequate food, water, or medical assistance. SLA spokesperson El-Sadiq Ali El-Nour reported on Sunday that the influx of internally displaced persons has overwhelmed resources, forcing many to sleep outdoors in perilous conditions.

The situation in al-Fashir has grown increasingly precarious, with heavy shelling and ground assaults by the RSF reported on Sunday. The SLA has urgently called upon the Sudanese armed forces and allied factions to intervene to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. “The leadership of the armed forces must act swiftly to save the lives of approximately 1.5 million people in al-Fashir urgently,” the SLA implored in a public statement. “Darfur must not fight alone.”

In a bid to deflect accusations of civilian targeting, the RSF has denied any intentional harm to non-combatants, asserting that their rivals are orchestrating a media campaign replete with fabricated scenes to vilify their actions. They further claimed that they have organized voluntary evacuations for families fleeing al-Fashir and have welcomed humanitarian agencies to aid in response to the deteriorating living conditions.

The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 as a power struggle between the army and the RSF fractured hopes for a peaceful transition to civilian governance. Since then, the war has displaced millions and ravaged regions, particularly Darfur, where the RSF is battling to solidify its control amid advances from the national army in Khartoum. As the humanitarian situation worsens, the plight of innocent civilians in the conflict zones remains tragically at the forefront.