Sudan horror: Children, aid workers among 100+ dead as RSF storms famine-hit Darfur camps

Why did over 100 civilians die in El-Fasher as RSF escalated its campaign in Darfur?

More than 100 people, including at least 20 children and nine humanitarian aid workers, have been killed in what has become one of the most brutal escalations in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The attacks, carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 12, targeted the besieged city of El-Fasher—the last state capital in Darfur not under RSF control—and nearby displacement camps Zamzam and Abu Shouk, which are already in the grip of famine.

The United Nations has confirmed these coordinated assaults involved both ground offensives and aerial bombardment, marking a significant intensification of RSF’s Darfur campaign. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs condemned the violence, stating that the victims include children, civilians already displaced by conflict, and humanitarian personnel staffing one of the last operational clinics in Zamzam camp. According to the Sudanese army, at least 74 civilians died in El-Fasher alone, a number that may rise as communications in affected areas remain severely disrupted.

The RSF denied responsibility and claimed that video evidence of civilian killings was fabricated, but local aid groups and eyewitnesses contradicted this, describing widespread devastation and ongoing gunfire throughout Saturday.

What triggered the renewed RSF offensive in El-Fasher and Darfur’s displacement camps?

The latest RSF campaign is part of an intensifying struggle between the paramilitary force and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which began in April 2023 following a breakdown in power-sharing negotiations. The conflict, originally centered around Khartoum and the capital region, has increasingly shifted westward as the RSF attempts to consolidate control over Darfur, a region with a history of genocide and long-running ethnic tensions.

In March 2025, SAF forces regained control of Khartoum, dealing a symbolic and strategic blow to the RSF. In response, RSF commanders refocused their efforts on capturing El-Fasher, which remains a key logistical and symbolic stronghold in North Darfur. The city also lies near humanitarian corridors and has functioned as a supply hub for displaced populations.

Experts warn that RSF’s military campaign in El-Fasher is not only a military maneuver but also a tactic to weaponize hunger, as famine conditions in the area worsen due to restricted humanitarian access. Zamzam was the first site in Sudan to be officially classified under famine conditions by UN-backed agencies, with Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps following shortly after.

How severe is the famine in Zamzam and surrounding camps?

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) last year confirmed that famine-like conditions were present in Zamzam camp, where over 300,000 internally displaced persons reside. The situation deteriorated further in December 2024 when the IPC also declared famine conditions in Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps. El-Fasher itself is expected to tip into famine by May 2025 unless large-scale food assistance is delivered.

Aid workers and advocacy groups have repeatedly warned that the famine is not a natural disaster but a man-made crisis stemming from the conflict. With food supply routes blocked and humanitarian access heavily restricted by both warring factions, malnutrition has soared. Relief International and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) have described the situation as “catastrophic,” particularly among children under five, who are succumbing to hunger and treatable diseases.

In the latest attack, nine aid workers operating a medical facility in Zamzam were killed while treating patients. The facility was one of the last functioning health outposts in the region, and its destruction effectively cuts off thousands from essential medical care, exacerbating mortality risks.

What is the RSF and why has it become central to Sudan’s conflict?

The Rapid Support Forces, originally formed out of the Janjaweed militias that perpetrated war crimes during the Darfur genocide in the early 2000s, were integrated into Sudan’s security apparatus under former President Omar al-Bashir. Though later legitimized as a formal paramilitary wing, the RSF continued to operate with significant autonomy and influence.

The group has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including mass killings, systematic rape, looting, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Both the RSF and SAF have been implicated in war crimes during the ongoing civil war, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) collecting evidence related to atrocities committed by both sides.

Since 2023, the RSF has functioned as a de facto parallel state in western Sudan, administering territory, collecting taxes, and forming international ties. However, its aggressive expansion into Darfur and the targeting of humanitarian zones has triggered renewed scrutiny and demands for sanctions from the international community.

What are the broader humanitarian and geopolitical implications of the El-Fasher attacks?

The humanitarian implications are dire. The United Nations now estimates that nearly 25 million Sudanese—over half the country’s population—are in need of urgent assistance. More than 12 million people have been displaced since the civil war began, and entire regions have become inaccessible to aid groups due to safety concerns.

The RSF’s decision to target famine-hit areas raises significant concerns about deliberate obstruction of aid, a violation of international humanitarian law. The UN and several NGOs have reiterated calls for safe humanitarian corridors and a ceasefire to allow aid delivery. However, repeated ceasefire efforts have failed due to mistrust and political fragmentation.

Geopolitically, Sudan’s conflict continues to destabilize the Horn of Africa. The violence has spilled across borders, particularly into Chad and South Sudan, straining already fragile governments. International actors, including the African Union, Arab League, and the United Nations, have so far struggled to broker a lasting peace. A donor conference scheduled for April 15, co-hosted by the UK, Germany, and France, aims to coordinate emergency funding, but key stakeholders—namely SAF and RSF—will not be present.

How is the international community responding to the worsening crisis?

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Clementine Nkweta-Salami condemned the killings of humanitarian personnel in the strongest terms, stating that the deliberate targeting of health workers and displaced populations marked an “unacceptable escalation” in the war. Human rights groups echoed these concerns and demanded accountability for those responsible.

Despite global outrage, tangible intervention has been limited. A proposed arms embargo has stalled in the United Nations Security Council amid political divisions. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups on the ground are urging international donors to increase funding, particularly for nutrition, clean water, and emergency medical aid.

Analysts warn that Sudan risks becoming another protracted, underfunded humanitarian crisis similar to Syria and Yemen, where international fatigue undermined long-term response efforts. Without a diplomatic breakthrough or targeted intervention, both the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur is likely to deteriorate further.

As Sudan’s civil war enters its third year, the violence in El-Fasher and the targeting of famine-affected communities represent a grim milestone in the conflict. The combined toll of hunger, displacement, and indiscriminate violence underscores the catastrophic failure of both domestic governance and international diplomacy. Without immediate action, millions more in Darfur and beyond face the threat of death by starvation, disease, or further military assaults. The events unfolding in El-Fasher are not isolated—they are symptomatic of a collapsing state and a conflict that continues to defy resolution.