KHARTOUM— The death toll from the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) attack on the Zamzam refugee camp in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s Darfur region, has risen to 74, the Sudanese army confirmed on Saturday.
The ongoing assault, which began Friday, has continued into its second day, with reports of renewed clashes and civilian casualties.
Local sources and resistance committees say the RSF has launched repeated attacks on the camp, targeting homes, religious schools, and medical facilities.
According to the army, the RSF attacked the camp twice on Friday. While the first assault from the western side was repelled by government and allied forces, the second incursion resulted in widespread destruction, including the burning of homes and the killing of dozens of civilians.
In a statement, the army said at least 74 people had been killed and 17 others wounded. The Sudanese government strongly condemned the attack, calling it “a deliberate assault on innocent civilians.”
The General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur described the situation as “extremely critical” and said another attack was carried out Saturday morning. It warned that civilians, including children and aid workers, remain in grave danger.
Local resistance committees reported that several students at the Khalwa Sheikh Farah Quranic school were killed in the assault, along with healthcare workers operating in the camp.
The RSF has not issued a statement on the incident.
The attack is the latest atrocity in the ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which erupted in April 2023.
The war has devastated Sudan, killing more than 20,000 people and displacing over 15 million, according to UN data. Independent research from U.S.-based analysts suggests the actual death toll may exceed 130,000.
Despite the military reclaiming the capital Khartoum last month, violence continues to rage in other parts of the country, particularly in Darfur, where civilians have repeatedly borne the brunt of the fighting. — Agencies
