Displacement Camp in Darfur Shelled: 8 Killed and Health Crisis Warning

8 civilians were killed in intense artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Forces on the 'Abu Shouk' displaced camp near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, yesterday, Thursday.

The camp hosts tens of thousands of displaced persons and is located in an area suffering from severe siege and hunger, with El Fasher remaining a major stronghold of the Sudanese army in Darfur outside the control of the Rapid Support Forces.

According to a statement issued by the 'Abu Shouk Camp Emergency Room,' the Rapid Support Forces used heavy shells in the attack, resulting in the death of eight individuals and causing panic among the residents, most of whom are women and children.

This escalation comes days after similar attacks carried out by the same forces on villages in North Kordofan, leaving hundreds dead.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that waves of forced displacement in North Darfur state threaten the spread of cholera, which has recently increased in Sudan.

The United Nations pointed out that severe funding shortages are preventing the delivery of vital aid to the most vulnerable groups, adding that the current rainy season increases the risk of disease spread.

The conflict ongoing since April 2023 has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of millions of Sudanese, described by the United Nations as the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis currently.