Port Sudan, April 12(Darfur 24)
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta Salami, expressed her deep shock at reports of violent attacks on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk IDP camps and El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
Salami explained that the Rapid Support Forces carried out coordinated ground and air attacks on the three areas on Friday, leading to violent clashes and heavy civilian casualties.
Initial estimates indicate that more than 100 people were killed, including 20 children, in addition to nine humanitarian workers.
The UN official stated that some of the victims were humanitarian workers performing their duties inside one of the few remaining functioning health centers in Zamzam camp, a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
She added, “This bloody escalation represents yet another episode in a series of brutal attacks on displaced persons and humanitarian workers since the outbreak of the conflict nearly two years ago. These acts must stop immediately.”
The Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps are among the largest in Darfur, hosting more than 700,000 displaced people, many of whom have been forced to flee their homes multiple times.
The coordinator stressed the need to secure safe passages for those wishing to leave the fighting areas.
She continued, “Protecting civilians and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance is an imperative that cannot be overlooked. We continue to press for safe and immediate access to those affected, particularly in Zamzam and El Fasher, even though our efforts have not yet yielded the desired results.”
The UN official called for an immediate end to the fighting, stressing that the international community cannot turn a blind eye to these ongoing violations against civilians in Sudan.