Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked a famine-stricken displacement camp near el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, on Monday, killing at least 40 people, according to local human rights groups.
The Emergency Response Rooms, a community aid group operating in Sudan, reported on Facebook that RSF troops stormed parts of the Abu Shouk camp, targeting civilians inside their homes. At least 19 others were injured in the attack, the group said.
Home to approximately 450,000 displaced people, the Abu Shouk camp has faced repeated assaults throughout the war. Although el-Fasher remains under the control of the Sudanese army, RSF continues to carry out frequent attacks on the city and surrounding areas.
Local Resistance Committees in el-Fasher confirmed the violence, describing it as a reflection of the "horrific violations committed against innocent, unarmed civilians." These committees consist of local activists and community members focused on documenting human rights abuses.
The Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University released satellite images showing 40 vehicles within the camp on Monday, supporting claims of an RSF raid. The lab also reviewed photos and videos allegedly showing RSF fighters shooting at people attempting to crawl away, while also using ethnic slurs and verbal abuse.
Additional satellite imagery from Saturday appeared to show RSF forces blocking key escape routes from el-Fasher, including roads leading to Kutum and Mellit.
Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 following tensions between the RSF and the national army. Since then, over 40,000 people have been killed, around 12 million displaced, and many areas pushed to the edge of famine. Abu Shouk is one of two camps facing severe famine conditions, according to aid organizations.
On Monday, Sudan’s military claimed it engaged RSF forces in el-Fasher from early morning until the afternoon. The army said it repelled a major assault and inflicted significant damage—destroying over 16 combat vehicles and capturing 34 more, including armored units.
The RSF, however, posted on Telegram that it had made gains in the city and seized equipment, though it did not provide specifics.
Darfur Governor Mini Arko Minawi commented on Facebook, stating that el-Fasher had "triumphed over traitors," a veiled reference to the RSF.
Elsewhere, in North Kordofan province, the RSF was accused of forcing over 3,000 families from 66 villages since early August. The Sudan Doctors Network reported that RSF fighters looted homes, stole money and livestock, and left 18 civilians dead and many more injured. Those displaced have been arriving in Khartoum and White Nile provinces.
At the United Nations, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Edem Wosornum, from the U.N.'s humanitarian affairs agency, raised concerns about the deadly conditions in el-Fasher, reporting that over 60 people—mostly women and children—died from malnutrition in just one week.