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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Twenty years on, Darfur is facing hell on earth once more
The attackers came from all sides, with machine guns mounted on the beds of their pickup trucks. Their target: the Samsam refugee camp in Sudan's North Darfur state. Panic broke out in the camp, which was home to between 500,000 and 1 million internally displaced people, according to different estimates. The attackers were fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, the very group the refugees had fled from. Refugees like Mohamed, who does not wish to disclose his full name, experienced horrific events. "Older people who couldn't flee quickly enough were burned alive in their huts. Children were dragged out of hiding and killed," Mohamed reported by phone from Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur. He said the RSF abused and racially insulted their victims. Aid workers were executed on the spot. Mohamed's statements cannot be independently verified, but observers and aid organizations on the ground confirm the violent deaths of staff from the humanitarian organization Relief International. According to UNICEF, at least 23 children were killed. Reports indicate those killed numbered at least 129, possibly several hundred. Violence in Darfur has deep roots Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for more than two years between the RSF militia, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, and the government forces of Sudan's de facto leader Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan. The two generals originally seized power together in 2021 and are now fighting each other. Multiple diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire and launch peace negotiations have failed. However, the roots of the violence in Darfur go back further, to conflicts between Arab nomads and African farmers over resources such as water and land. Twenty years ago, Arab militias on horseback, some of whom later became part of the RSF, attacked villages belonging to African ethnic groups such as the Massalit, Zaghawa, and Fur. Thousands of villages were destroyed, and there were widespread reports of sexual violence and massacres. In 2004, then-US secretary of state Colin Powell described the events in Darfur as genocide. In 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an international arrest warrant for Sudan's then-president Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity in Darfur. Unlike today, Darfur received international attention at the time, with Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Mia Farrow making public appeals to "Save Darfur." History repeating itself? Now, history seems to be repeating itself. As early as summer 2023, there were reports of massacres targeting the Massalit ethnic group in West Darfur. Human rights groups have since repeatedly accused the RSF of torture, mass rapes and other crimes. Since the attack on Samsam in mid-April, there have been daily reports of dozens of deaths from shelling in Al-Fashir and surrounding villages. Al-Fashir, the last major city under government control and besieged by the RSF for a year, is of strategic importance. If the RSF captures Al-Fashir, they would control all of Darfur and could implement their plans to establish a parallel government there. Amnesty International demands action While many flee, those still in Sudan face "killings, summary executions, injury, rape, gang-rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, torture and enforced disappearances and widespread looting – all amounting to war crimes and some of which may also amount to crimes against humanity," Amnesty International wrote in an appeal to the European Union to act. "Children have been caught in the crossfire of aerial bombardments and shelling, resulting in numerous casualties and impacting severely on their safety, education and well-being." Since the start of the war, access to independent and reliable information has been under pressure as journalists are targeted by both parties with (death) threats, violence and attacks, Amnesty noted in its open letter. Media infrastructure, including offices and equipment, has been looted, burned and deliberately destroyed. "Ethnically motivated killing, forced displacement and sexual violence by both parties have re-emerged, raising alarming parallels to the Darfur crisis of 2003-2005, when mass atrocities were committed against ethnic communities." The resurgence of these tactics heightens the risk of a return to the darkest days of Sudan's wars, when systematic ethnic cleansing and war crimes devastated entire communities. "Diplomatic efforts have failed to bring a change in the behaviour of the warring parties or end the violations," the NGO noted, adding Washington's suspension of foreign aid only amplified the "urgency for robust and timely diplomatic action." Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports that sexual violence has become so widespread in the Darfur region that many people chillingly speak about it as unavoidable. "Women and girls do not feel safe anywhere. They are attacked in their own homes, when fleeing violence, getting food, collecting firewood, working in the fields. They tell us they feel trapped," MSF emergency coordinator Claire San Filippo says. "These attacks are heinous and cruel, often involving multiple perpetrators. This must stop."
The Guardian
14-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Sudan's news blackout stokes fear and confusion after refugee camp attacks
Sudan's information blackout has left relatives of those in Sudan's Zamzam refugee camp struggling for news of their safety after it was overrun by militiamen at the weekend. As leaders across the globe prepared to meet for peace talks in London to pressure the backers of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army to agree a ceasefire, the RSF launched a deadly assault that led to it seizing Zamzam after weeks of tightening its siege. Campaigners said the dearth of information on the violence, which has reportedly killed hundreds of civilians, highlighted the need for the talks to prioritise restoring communications to allow communities under attack to warn each other, to give better access to healthcare and to facilitate human rights documentation. Altahir Hashim, whose family was living in Zamzam, said: 'Zamzam as an IDP [internally displaced persons] camp no longer exists. The RSF has completely overrun the camp – killing, raping, burning and committing all kinds of atrocities. The communications are really bad and I haven't been able to speak to my family.' On Friday, nine medical workers from the aid organisation Relief International were killed when the RSF raided Zamzam, while the Sudanese American Physicians Association (Sapa), said the manager of a children's health centre was also killed. The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières said its team at Tawila, another displacement camp near El Fasher, has seen about 10,000 people arrive in 48 hours suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. For two decades Zamzam has hosted people displaced during the 2000s in attacks by the army and the Janjaweed militias – who were later formalised into the RSF – but its population has grown to about 700,000 during the current civil war as people have fled other parts of the Darfur region. Hashim is part of a group of Darfuris abroad who have raised funds to buy and airdrop satellite phones into Darfur as well as walkie-talkies to allow local communication during emergencies. He said the communications blackout also made it difficult for people to receive money sent from relatives abroad through mobile banking systems. The limited information that has emerged from Zamzam has often relied on satellite communications – whether through imagery, phones or the Starlink service, which uses satellites rather than land-based communication towers to provide internet. But these services can be unreliable and are costly, meaning that while they are used by some activists in Darfur, others remain unable to be contacted. One video shared by the group North Darfur Observatory for Human Rights showed people fleeing Zamzam with their belongings strapped to camels and donkeys. Often the main source of information from Darfur has come from videos recorded by RSF fighters themselves of the atrocities and some have emerged showing their fighters entering Zamzam on pickup trucks mounted with heavy machine guns with burning buildings in the background. Shayna Lewis, from the US-based organisation Preventing & Ending Mass Atrocities (Paema).'We have reports of civilians being hunted and executed in the streets of Zamzam, but we are unable to consistently communicate with people as the networks are off and the internet can only be accessed through Starlink access points. Starlink access is sporadic, expensive and can be turned off by the belligerents at will.' Paema said the talks in London should prioritise restoring communications as a way to quickly relieve suffering in Sudan. Sapa, which operates medical facilities in El Fasher, said the last message it received from its teams in Zamzam on Sunday afternoon was: 'Zamzam under the control of the RSF.' Khalid Mishain, of the Sudanese human rights group Youth Citizens Observers Network, said they had lost contact with their observers in the area since the attack. He said the communications blackout had been a impediment to human rights documentation throughout the conflict. 'People have to write the information down, keep it with them and then secretly move to areas where there is communications and send it to us,' said Mishain. 'We have civilians suffering and no one knows about it, and those who report on it have to risk their life because of the communications blackout.'
The Independent
13-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Sudan paramilitaries kill at least 100 people in attack on famine-hit camps
Sudan 's notorious paramilitary group killed at least 100 people in a two-day attack on famine-hit camps for displaced people in the Darfur region, a UN official said. About 20 children and nine aid workers were among those killed by the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, and allied militias during their offensive on the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps and the nearby city of El-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province, on Friday. El-Fasher is under the control of the military, which has fought the RSF since Sudan descended into a civil war two years ago, killing more than 24,000 people, according to the UN, though activists say the number is likely far higher. The camps were attacked again on Saturday, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said in a statement. She said nine aid workers were killed "while operating one of the very few remaining health posts still operational" in the Zamzam camp. "This represents yet another deadly and unacceptable escalation in a series of brutal attacks on displaced people and aid workers in Sudan since the onset of this conflict nearly two years ago," she said. Ms Nkweta-Salami did not identify the aid workers but the Sudanese Doctors' Union said in a statement that six medical workers with the Relief International were killed when their hospital in Zamzam came under attack on Friday. They included Dr Mahmoud Babaker Idris and Adam Babaker Abdallah, head of the group in the region, the union said. It blamed the RSF for "this criminal and barbaric act". In a statement on Saturday evening, Relief International mourned the death of the nine workers, saying they had been killed the previous day in a "targeted attack on all health infrastructure in the region", including the group's clinic. The group said the central market in Zamzam along with hundreds of makeshift homes in the camp were destroyed in the attack. The offensive forced nearly 2,400 people to flee the camps and El-Fasher, the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees, a local group in Darfur, said. Zamzam and Abu Shouk shelter over 700,000 people forced to flee their homes across Darfur during past bouts of fighting in the region, Ms Nkweta-Salami said. The Sudanese military last month regained control of Khartoum, a major symbolic victory in the war. But the RSF remained in control of most of Darfur and some other areas. The two camps are among five areas in Sudan suffering famine, according to the global hunger monitoring group Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The war has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with about 25 million people, half of Sudan's population, facing extreme hunger.
Arab Times
13-04-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Attacks on famine-hit camps in Sudan's Darfur leave at least 100 people dead: UN official
CAIRO, April 13, (AP): Sudan's notorious paramilitary group launched a two-day attack on famine-hit camps for displaced people that left more than 100 dead, including 20 children and nine aid workers, in the Darfur region, a UN official said Saturday. The Rapid Support Forces and allied militias launched an offensive on the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps and the nearby city of el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province, on Friday, said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Clementine Nkweta-Salami. El-Fasher is under the control of the military, which has fought the RSF since Sudan descended into civil war two years ago, killing more than than 24,000 people, according to the United Nations, though activists say the number is likely far higher. The camps were attacked again on Saturday, Nkweta-Salami said in a statement. She said that nine aid workers were killed "while operating one of the very few remaining health posts still operational' in Zamzam camp. "This represents yet another deadly and unacceptable escalation in a series of brutal attacks on displaced people and aid workers in Sudan since the onset of this conflict nearly two years ago,' she said. Nkweta-Salami didn't identify the aid workers but Sudan's Doctors' Union said in a statement that six medical workers with the Relief International were killed when their hospital in Zamzam came under attack on Friday. They include Dr Mahmoud Babaker Idris, a physician at the hospital, and Adam Babaker Abdallah, head of the group in the region, the union said. It blamed the RSF for "this criminal and barbaric act.' In a statement Saturday evening, Relief International mourned the death of its nine workers, saying they were killed the previous day in a "targeted attack on all health infrastructure in the region,' including the group's clinic. The group said the central market in Zamzam along with hundreds of makeshift homes in the camp were destroyed in the attack. The offensive forced about 2,400 people to flee the camps and el-Fasher, according to the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees, a local group in Darfur. Zamzam and Abu Shouk shelter more than 700,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes across Darfur during past bouts of fighting in the region, Nkweta-Salami said. Late last month, the Sudanese military regained control over Khartoum, a major symbolic victory in the war. But the RSF still controls most of Darfur and some other areas. The two camps are among five areas in Sudan where famine was detected by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC, a global hunger monitoring group. The war has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with about 25 million people - half of Sudan's population - facing extreme hunger.
Al Jazeera
12-04-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Sudan paramilitaries kill at least 100 people in Darfur attack, UN says
The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has carried out a two-day attack on famine-hit camps for displaced people in the Darfur region that killed more than 100 people, including 20 children and nine aid workers, according to the United Nations. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, on Saturday said the RSF and allied militias launched an offensive on the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps and the nearby city of el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province. The camps were attacked on Friday and again on Saturday, Nkweta-Salami said in a statement, and nine aid workers were killed 'while operating one of the very few remaining health posts' in Zamzam camp. Zamzam and Abu Shouk shelter more than 700,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes across Darfur during past bouts of fighting in the region, according to UN figures. 'This represents yet another deadly and unacceptable escalation in a series of brutal attacks on displaced people and aid workers in Sudan since the onset of this conflict nearly two years ago,' she said. 'I strongly urge those committing such acts to immediately desist.' The UN official didn't identify the aid workers, but Sudan's Doctors' Union said in a statement that six medical workers with the Relief International group were killed when their hospital in Zamzam came under attack on Friday. They include Mahmoud Babaker Idris, a physician at the hospital, and Adam Babaker Abdallah, head of the group in the region, the union said. It blamed the RSF for 'this criminal and barbaric act'. Relief International confirmed the death of its nine workers, saying they were killed in a 'targeted attack on all health infrastructure in the region', including the group's clinic. The group said the central market in Zamzam and hundreds of makeshift homes in the camp were destroyed in the attack. Zamzam and Abu Shouk are among five areas in Sudan where famine was detected by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC, a global hunger monitoring group. The war has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with about 25 million people – half of Sudan's population – facing extreme hunger. In recent weeks, the paramilitaries have stepped up their attacks on el-Fasher – the only state capital in Darfur still outside their control – after the army recaptured the national capital Khartoum last month. Amnesty International published a report earlier this month accusing the RSF of subjecting women and girls to 'horrific' sexual violence and gang rape, as part of their strategy in the country's civil war.
