Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Shelling Strikes Sudan’s Zamzam Camp

Sudan’s Zamzam displacement camp, already grappling with famine and mass displacement, has come under heavy shelling, escalating the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region. Medical aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and local volunteers report that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fired over 20 shells into the camp, killing at least six people and injuring 13. Zamzam, a camp housing nearly half a million displaced individuals, had previously been considered a safe haven in the region’s ongoing conflict.

The RSF denied responsibility, accusing army-aligned Joint Forces of using the camp as a base and shielding themselves with civilians. “Not only have people been starving, but they are now being bombarded and forced to flee again,” said Michel-Olivier Lacharité, MSF’s head of emergency operations, describing the situation as "beyond chaotic." The attack follows months of conflict between the RSF and Sudanese armed forces, a war that has displaced over 10 million people and overwhelmed humanitarian relief efforts.

The attack on Zamzam coincides with an extended RSF siege of al-Fashir, the last army-held city in North Darfur. Months of artillery and airstrikes have decimated the city, driving thousands into Zamzam and other camps. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently declared a famine in Zamzam, exacerbating the plight of residents. Last week, the World Food Programme completed its first delivery to the camp in months, highlighting the precariousness of the aid lifeline.

Mass Panic and Growing Displacement

The shelling triggered chaos in Zamzam, with families fleeing in panic. “The terrified screams of children could be heard from inside their tents,” reported a local resistance committee. Volunteers shared videos showing abandoned shelters and described widespread panic as people fled in all directions.

For months, the camp had been spared the worst of the violence due to the presence of Joint Forces fighters, who offered a degree of protection. However, reports indicate that defensive positions were recently constructed in the camp, suggesting preparation for conflict. The Yale Humanitarian Lab confirmed these developments in a November report but did not specify who was responsible for the fortifications.

The RSF, which controls much of North Darfur, justified the attacks, claiming it aimed to eradicate “mercenaries and militias” based in al-Fashir. Both the RSF and the army have been accused of targeting civilians, with the RSF launching arson attacks on non-Arab villages and the military conducting airstrikes in surrounding areas.

Aid Struggles and Resource Scarcity

The violence has forced at least 84 families to flee Zamzam and al-Fashir in recent days, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Many are seeking refuge in towns like Tawila, controlled by the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), which has remained neutral in the conflict. However, these areas are themselves at emergency hunger levels and lack resources to accommodate the influx of displaced people.

The escalating crisis underscores the urgent need for international intervention and sustained humanitarian aid. As Darfur’s conflict deepens, the civilians caught in the crossfire face mounting challenges of hunger, displacement, and survival amidst unrelenting violence.