Crisis in North Darfur: Violence and Displacement

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence against civilians in North Darfur, particularly after a mid-April attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Zamzam displacement camp. This assault resulted in the deaths of 12 humanitarian workers and has forced hundreds of thousands to flee, raising fresh allegations of sexual violence and forced recruitment.

The Attack on Zamzam Displacement Camp

According to a situation update by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), displaced families reported killings, widespread looting, and the destruction of shelters during the RSF’s raid on the camp. Survivors described a breakdown in access to legal assistance, mental health services, and support for victims of gender-based violence. Reports from humanitarian partners indicate a sharp increase in sexual violence, forced recruitment, and civilian targeting by RSF fighters.

Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis

Satellite imagery confirmed large fires in Zamzam’s central and southern zones. Once home to approximately 400,000 displaced people, the camp is now nearly deserted. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 332,000 people have fled to areas across North and Central Darfur, including the localities of Tina, Mellit, Tawila, and Dar El Salam. Another 150,000 people arrived in El Fasher, while an estimated 181,000 moved to Tawila locality alone.

Humanitarian Challenges

El Fasher is facing a severe fuel crisis, which has paralyzed essential services such as water delivery. The UN reported that diesel prices have surged fivefold over the past three months, making water transport nearly impossible in several neighborhoods. Local health workers also warn of rising medical emergencies among displaced populations, particularly children and the elderly. The lack of clean water and refrigeration for essential medications has already led to preventable complications and deaths in makeshift settlements.

The Role of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

The RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), has been accused of repeated human rights abuses throughout Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The group’s intensified operations in Darfur have triggered a wave of mass displacement and deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Call to Action

International aid agencies warn that without immediate intervention, access to clean water, medical care, and protection services will continue to deteriorate. Civilians already burdened by war, hunger, and displacement now face mounting threats to their safety and survival. The UN urged all parties to uphold international humanitarian law, ensure safe passage for civilians, and allow unrestricted access for humanitarian aid workers.

Conclusion

The situation in North Darfur is dire, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The international community must take immediate action to address the crisis, protect civilians, and hold those responsible for human rights abuses accountable. The fate of the displaced populations hangs in the balance, and it is imperative that the world acts now to prevent further suffering and loss of life.

Introduction to the Crisis

The war between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces has been ongoing for two years, causing immense suffering and destruction to the Sudanese people. This conflict has brought nothing but death, displacement, and suffering, affecting the lives of millions of civilians who are caught in the middle.

The Human Cost

The Sudanese civilians are the primary victims of this conflict, paying a heavy price with their lives, security, property, and future. The continuation of indiscriminate shelling, attacks on villages and cities, sieges, starvation, and serious violations of international humanitarian law must stop immediately. The Sudan Media Forum demands that the two parties to the conflict implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, providing full and necessary protection for civilians throughout Sudan.

The Failure of Military Solution

The military solution has proven to be a failure, and there is no way out of this dark tunnel except through a comprehensive and genuine political process led by the Sudanese themselves. This process should lead to the formation of a credible transitional civilian government that works to achieve sustainable peace and rebuild what the war has destroyed. The government should also safeguard the dignity and basic rights of citizens, guarantee democratic freedoms, and ensure the freedom of the press and expression.

External Interference

The Sudan Media Forum strongly condemns all forms of external interference in Sudanese affairs, which fuels the conflict and directly contributes to prolonging it. The Forum demands that all regional and international parties immediately cease interfering in this conflict and leave the Sudanese to determine their own destiny.

International Responsibility

The international community and its humanitarian institutions have a moral and legal responsibility towards the Sudanese people. They should intensify and expand the scope of urgent humanitarian assistance in all its forms, ensuring its safe and unhindered access to all affected and needy people throughout the country. This will help alleviate the severity of the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

Support for Civil Society

The international community should also provide necessary and sustainable support to Sudanese civil society institutions, including human rights organizations and independent media. This will enable them to play their vital role in monitoring violations, defending public freedoms, denouncing war crimes committed against civilians, and contributing to efforts towards achieving justice and national reconciliation.

Conclusion

The Sudan Media Forum reiterates the necessity of ending this war immediately, providing protection for civilians, stopping external interference, and engaging in a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue that leads to a democratic civilian government fulfilling the people’s aspirations for peace, freedom, and justice. It is time for the international community to take action and support the Sudanese people in their quest for a better future. The world cannot afford to remain silent in the face of such suffering and injustice. #SilenceKills #NoTimeToWasteForSudan #StandWithSudan #SudanMediaForum

Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

The situation in Sudan’s Kalma camp is dire, with nearly 600 children suffering from acute malnutrition. Located in South Darfur State, the camp is one of the largest sites for internally displaced persons in the country. An aerial view of the camp shows the vast expanse of makeshift shelters, a testament to the thousands of people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict.

Deteriorating Conditions

At least 19 children died in March due to hunger, thirst, and lack of basic medical care, according to Adam Regal, spokesperson for the General Coordination of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees. Regal described the situation in Kalma as "extremely dire," warning that the camp’s residents are facing some of the harshest conditions since the conflict began. The number of children suffering from malnutrition has reached 597, and the camp has already lost 19 children in just one month.

Restrictions on Humanitarian Access

Kalma camp, located near Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, has long been a refuge for people fleeing conflict. However, since the outbreak of full-scale war in April 2023 and the takeover of much of Darfur by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), humanitarian access has been severely restricted. The RSF’s control over major routes and urban centers has made it nearly impossible for aid organizations to operate safely and effectively in the region.

Consequences of the Crisis

With food supplies dwindling, healthcare facilities shut down, and water sources either damaged or unsafe, the lives of tens of thousands in the camp are at risk. It’s not just bullets taking lives—starvation and neglect are also claiming the lives of displaced people. The General Coordination, an independent non-governmental group, has called on the United Nations, its agencies, and regional and international humanitarian organizations to scale up emergency relief efforts.

A Broader Emergency

The crisis in Kalma is part of a much broader emergency unfolding across Sudan. According to recent reports, famine-like conditions are already present in at least five regions, including other displacement camps such as Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Salam, as well as parts of the Western Nuba Mountains. Five additional locations in North Darfur are expected to fall into famine soon, with 17 more areas classified as being at high risk.

International Response

In January 2025, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned the U.N. Security Council about Sudan’s rapidly worsening food crisis. They said the country is in the grip of a "humanitarian emergency of staggering proportions," with food insecurity reaching its worst levels in Sudan’s modern history. Humanitarian actors continue to face immense challenges in reaching affected populations, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups.

Conclusion

The situation in Kalma camp and other parts of Sudan is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of conflict and neglect. As children continue to die in Kalma camp and other forgotten corners of Sudan, local advocates are pleading for urgent international attention before the crisis claims even more lives. The international community must act now to provide emergency relief and support to those in need, and work towards a long-term solution to the crisis in Sudan. The lives of thousands of people, including children, women, and men, depend on it.