Escalating Violence in Sudan Claims 65 Lives and Leaves More Than 130 Injured

Munzir, a Sudanese man separated from his family for two years due to the ongoing civil war, has finally returned home to Khartoum, thanks to the efforts of a charity and social media. According to local human rights groups, at least 50,000 individuals have been separated from their families since the war began in April 2023. Munzir was wounded by a stray bullet in army-controlled territory in Omdurman and spent time at a shelter for displaced patients following his injury. Mohamed Alfatih, head of the charity Resilience, organized a social media campaign to locate Munzir's family. Through this, they learned that his mother was in southern Khartoum. With diminishing hope and soaring anticipation, Munzir made his way home, witnessing both the beauty and devastation of his city along the way. Upon arrival, Munzir's mother, Khadija, was overwhelmed with joy, stating, "I've been waiting for him for so long." The reunion underscored a moment of relief amid the pervasive violence and uncertainty in Sudan.

A recent assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sudan's Zamzam displacement camp has left at least 400 civilians dead and forced over 400,000 to flee, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The attack began on April 11, as RSF forces shelled the camp, home to 700,000 internally displaced people, and stormed in chanting racial slurs. Community organizer Mohamed* described the violence as "barbaric" and reported heavy resistance faced while attempting to seek medical assistance for injuries sustained during the attack. He revealed that nine staff members of Relief International were killed in the assault. As survivors fled towards El Fasher, 14 km away, or Tawila, 60 km west, many arrived dehydrated and in dire need of medical care, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Conditions in these locations remain dire, with skyrocketing food prices and a lack of resources further compounding the humanitarian crisis. Human rights advocates claim the RSF is using displaced persons as human shields, intensifying fears of targeted ethnic violence. A communications blackout has hindered the comprehensive assessment of the situation, complicating humanitarian responses.

More than 114 civilians have been reported killed following a series of attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on displacement camps in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, according to local health authorities. Ibrahim Khatir, the director general of North Darfur State's health authority, stated that the brutal assault on the Zamzam camp resulted in over 100 fatalities, including nine employees from the NGO Relief International who were working in a field hospital. Emergency Room, a volunteer organization, reported that an additional 14 civilians died during an attack on the Abu Shouk camp, with scores more injured as a result of heavy shelling. The RSF has not commented on these incidents, which occur amidst ongoing fierce fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF since May 2024. Sudan has faced escalating violence since mid-April 2023, with the conflict now resulting in over 29,600 deaths, as documented by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, an initiative cited by the United Nations.