Sudan’s Displacement Crisis Deepens as RSF Attacks Camps in North Darfur

A group of independent human rights experts has issued a dire warning about the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, citing targeted attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in North Darfur. The experts strongly condemned the recent violence perpetrated by RSF and affiliated militias on Zamzam and Abu Shuk camps—once considered sanctuaries for those displaced by earlier waves of conflict.

Escalating Violence in Darfur

As Sudan approaches the third year of a brutal armed conflict that began in April 2023, violent clashes between RSF factions and the Sudanese military government have intensified. North Darfur, already ravaged by years of instability, has become a flashpoint for this renewed violence. The RSF’s repeated bombardment of Zamzam and Abu Shuk camps has triggered a mass exodus, with over 332,000 individuals forced to flee Zamzam alone, out of the more than 400,000 IDPs it once hosted.

“These camps, which were meant to be safe havens, are now targets,” the experts stated. “The deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure not only violates humanitarian law but also threatens the very existence of these communities.”

Humanitarian Systems on the Brink

Sudan is now experiencing the largest internal displacement crisis in the world. Over 10.7 million people—nearly a quarter of the nation’s population—have been displaced since April 2023. Of these, over 2 million were newly displaced in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with the majority fleeing violence in Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan.

The conflict has decimated Sudan’s fragile infrastructure. In North and Central Darfur, critical water, health, and food distribution systems have collapsed. Water trucking operations have been suspended in El Fasher and other regions due to acute fuel shortages, while local health centers are overwhelmed by injured and malnourished civilians, particularly children. In Central Darfur, humanitarian organizations report alarming levels of acute malnutrition and disease.

The experts warned that the destruction of life-saving infrastructure is no accident but a calculated strategy of war. “This campaign of violence is erasing the most basic safeguards for survival,” they emphasized.

Grave Human Rights Violations

According to the experts, there is credible evidence of egregious human rights violations committed by the RSF and affiliated militias. These include:

• Indiscriminate shelling of densely populated civilian areas.

• Targeting of hospitals, water points, and shelters, leading to the collapse of basic services.

• Sexual violence and exploitation, including sexual slavery.

• Forced recruitment, including of children.

• Conflict-related human trafficking, particularly involving women and girls.

“These atrocities not only shatter communities but represent flagrant violations of international law,” the experts said. “The most vulnerable—women, children, the disabled, and elderly—are bearing the brunt of the suffering.”

Urgent Calls for Protection and Accountability

The human rights experts are calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and robust international action to protect civilians and uphold accountability. Key recommendations include:

• The establishment of safe humanitarian corridors for aid delivery and evacuation.

• Strengthened child protection and gender-based violence prevention mechanisms.

• Independent investigations and prosecutions of war crimes and human rights violations at both national and international levels.

• Increased support for international accountability bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and United Nations investigative mechanisms.

“There must be no impunity,” the experts insisted. “Justice and protection cannot wait while atrocities continue unchecked.”

International Response: A Tipping Point

Despite the gravity of the crisis, humanitarian access remains severely limited due to ongoing violence and bureaucratic hurdles. International agencies are struggling to deliver aid as insecurity and logistical barriers mount. The United Nations Secretary-General has repeatedly urged for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access, a call echoed by the independent experts.

“The time for statements has passed,” they said. “What is needed now is decisive international engagement, not only to stop the violence but to support survivors and rebuild what has been lost.”

A Nation at Breaking Point

Sudan’s protracted conflict has plunged the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. With over a quarter of the population displaced, critical infrastructure in ruins, and widespread impunity for war crimes, the path forward remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that without immediate and sustained international action, the crisis will deepen further—exacting a catastrophic toll on generations to come.