Aid workers and activists reported renewed shelling on Wednesday on the Zamzam displaced persons camp in North Darfur, while the governor of the region, Arko Minni Minnawi, accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of “killing more than 20 civilians” in western Sudan.
The shelling comes amid critical humanitarian conditions in the camp, which faces the risk of famine threatening more than half a million displaced people who fled due to the situation in the country.Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that 7 people were injured after shells were fired at the camp.
The RSF, which is fighting the Sudanese army for control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, began attacking the camp on Sunday and Monday.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 2,000 people fled as a result of these attacks.For his part, the governor of Darfur region in western Sudan accused the RSF of killing more than 20 people and injuring others during an attack on El Fasher, the regional center.
Arko Minni Minnawi called on the international community to “take a firm stance against these crimes and work to protect civilians.”El Fasher has been witnessing clashes between the army and the RSF since May 10, despite international warnings about battles in the city.Risk of Famine
In August, global food security experts declared that Zamzam camp was suffering from famine.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has since been able to deliver some food aid, but said on Wednesday that deliveries have been disrupted.WFP said in a statement, “The attacks may delay the arrival of WFP aid convoys heading to the camp. This aid is the only way to combat famine
.”It added, “We are extremely concerned about the safety of civilians in the camp and our partners on the ground.”Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been waging a war that has left more than 20,000 dead and over 14 million displaced and refugees, according to estimates by the United Nations and local authorities.UN and international calls are escalating to end the war to spare Sudan a humanitarian catastrophe that has begun to push millions into famine and death due to food shortages caused by fighting that has spread to 13 out of 18 states.Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies
