A shelter in the Darfur region was struck by a shelling and drone attack carried out by Sudanese paramilitary forces, resulting in the tragic deaths of 53 individuals, as reported by a group of doctors on Saturday. Among the casualties were 14 children and 15 women. The attack, orchestrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), occurred in the city of El Fasher, leaving 21 individuals injured, including five children and seven women, with many sustaining severe injuries.
The assault targeted the al-Arqam Home, a shelter for displaced families in El Fasher, situated at the Omdurman Islamic University. The Sudan Doctors Network condemned the massacre, denouncing the RSF’s actions as a violation of international norms and laws. The RSF has not yet responded to requests for comments.
Human rights organizations, including the Mashad Organization, described the attack as one of the most horrific massacres since the RSF initiated its offensive over a year ago, portraying it as a genocidal act witnessed by a silent world. El Fasher has been embroiled in intense conflict between the Sudanese military and paramilitary forces, with the city serving as the military’s final bastion in Darfur.
The paramilitaries, known for frequent bombings, enforced a complete blockade in July, leaving approximately 260,000 civilians trapped in the city following mass exoduses due to RSF attacks. The population in El Fasher is grappling with food shortages and disease outbreaks, including cholera, according to the United Nations.
Sudan has been plagued by turmoil since clashes erupted between the military and RSF in April 2023, escalating into a full-scale war that has claimed thousands of lives, displaced over 14 million people, and plunged parts of the country into famine. The conflict has been marred by heinous acts such as mass killings and sexual violence, prompting investigations by the International Criminal Court for potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
