Sudanese army confirms 74 deaths in RSF attack on Zamzam Refugee Camp

Sudanese army confirmed on Saturday that the death toll from the ongoing assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Zamzam refugee camp in El Fasher, the capital of Darfur, has increased to 74, up from the 25 reported the previous day.

The RSF’s attack on the camp entered its second day, with reports of continued fighting and assaults, according to local sources.

The Sudanese army reported that the camp was attacked twice on Friday. The first attack, from the western side of the camp, was repelled by the army and supporting forces. However, the second attack led to the RSF setting fire to several homes and killing civilians within the camp.

The army confirmed that 74 people were killed and 17 others were wounded due to the RSF’s assault.

The Sudanese government also issued a statement condemning the attack, which targeted innocent civilians.

In a separate statement, the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur, a civilian group, expressed deep concern, reporting another attack on Saturday morning.

The organization described the situation as “extremely critical” for displaced people and innocent civilians in the region.

Local resistance committees in El Fasher also reported that the RSF launched a renewed attack on the camp, which lasted over three hours.

The committees further stated that many students at a traditional Quranic school, Khalwa Sheikh Farah, were killed in the attack, along with medical personnel working in the camp’s hospitals and clinics.

There has been no comment from the RSF regarding the ongoing assault.

Upheaval in Sudan since April 2023

Since April 15, 2023, the RSF has been engaged in a battle with the Sudanese army for control of the country, leading to thousands of deaths and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

According to the UN and local authorities, more than 20,000 people have been killed, and 15 million others displaced. Research from US scholars, however, estimates the death toll to be around 130,000.

While the military reclaimed the capital Khartoum last month, the civil war continues.