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Key Points

The RSF paramilitary group shelled a displacement camp in El Fasher, killing 31 civilians including children. Volunteer groups report critical shortages of medicine and food amid the ongoing siege. The conflict between RSF and Sudanese forces has displaced millions since 2023. Humanitarian organizations warn of systematic war crimes against civilians in Darfur.

Key Points: RSF Attack Kills 31 Including Children in Sudan's El Fasher

  • RSF artillery attack kills 31 in Abu Shouk displacement camp
  • Siege of El Fasher causes severe medicine and food shortages
  • Conflict stems from 2023 power struggle between RSF and Sudanese military
  • Volunteer groups condemn systematic civilian targeting as war crimes
3 min read

31 killed in paramilitary forces attack in Sudan

RSF paramilitary forces shell displacement camp in Sudan, killing 31 civilians including children amid worsening humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

"Deliberately targeting the Abu Shouk camp with artillery shelling is a heinous crime – Sudan Doctors Network"

Khartoum, Aug 17

At least 31 people were killed, including seven children and a pregnant woman, and 13 others were injured in an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city of El Fasher, western Sudan, according to volunteer groups.

The Sudan Doctors Network, a volunteer group, said in a statement on Saturday that the RSF conducted a "heinous crime" by "deliberately targeting" the Abu Shouk displacement camp with artillery shelling.

The ongoing siege of El Fasher has caused critical shortages of medicine, medical staff, and food, "exposing thousands of displaced women and children to slow death," it warned.

The Abu Shouk Emergency Room said in a statement that "the northern side of the camp witnessed intense artillery shelling on Saturday," resulting in "more than 30 deaths."

Meanwhile, the Coordination of Resistance Committees in El Fasher, a volunteer group, said the RSF attack began early in the morning and continued past noon, sparking panic among civilians, triggering new displacement, and causing numerous casualties and significant damage to homes and infrastructure.

There has been no immediate comment from the RSF regarding the incident, reports Xinhua news agency.

The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 over a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, devastating the country's infrastructure, killing tens of thousands, displacing millions, and creating a severe humanitarian crisis.

El Fasher, capital of the North Darfur state and the last major city in the vast Darfur region not under RSF control, has been the epicentre of the conflict and under siege by the RSF since May 2024.

Earlier this month, the volunteer groups reported that at least 16 people were killed and eight others were injured in an attack carried out by the RSF on a village in North Kordofan State, western Sudan.

The network condemned what it described as "a brutal attack," stating that it constitutes a full-fledged "war crime" and reflects a systematic pattern by the RSF of targeting civilians in Sudan.

For its part, the Coordination of Resistance Committees in North Kordofan, also a volunteer group, confirmed in a statement that 16 civilians were killed in the RSF attack on the village of Markaz Al-Ziyadiya, noting that several others were wounded or taken captive.

According to the statement, an RSF armed group launched an assault on civilians inside their homes and looted residents' properties in the process.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Reminds me of the Darfur crisis from early 2000s. History repeating itself while the world watches. India should offer humanitarian aid through our existing Africa partnerships. We have the medical infrastructure to help.
A
Arjun K
While this is tragic, we must also remember similar situations closer home in Manipur. Violence against civilians anywhere is unacceptable. Maybe India can take lead in proposing UN action given our experience in peacekeeping.
S
Sarah B
The targeting of displacement camps is particularly cruel. These people have already lost everything. Where's the humanity? The RSF must be held accountable through ICC. No excuses for killing children and pregnant women.
V
Vikram M
Our media should give more coverage to African conflicts. We're quick to report Western news but ignore our neighboring continent's suffering. This affects us too - many Indians work in Sudan and regional stability impacts our economy.
K
Kavya N
The siege causing medicine shortages is criminal. As someone who works in healthcare, I know how quickly preventable diseases can become deadly without basic supplies. NGOs need safe passage to deliver aid immediately.
M
Michael C
While condemning the violence, we must acknowledge the complex tribal dynamics in Darfur that fuel these conflicts. Lasting peace needs local reconciliation, not just international condemnation. Easier said than done though

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