According to new United Nations reports, Sudanese Armed Forces perpetrated a brutal attack targeting civilians at the Zamzam refugee camp. This most recent attack, which took place between April 11th and 14th, could have killed over 1,500 civilians. The fatal flood has left at least 2,000 residents missing. This is a deeply troubling development given the growing humanitarian crisis in the area.
Muslim and Jewish leaders called the attack one of the most brutal atrocities in contemporary world history. It has ripped through a community that has hosted refugees for more than 20 years. Until then, the best estimates indicated roughly 400 non-Arab civilians were killed in the three-day attack. Experts say the ultimate death toll may be much worse.
Mohammed Sharif, a member of the committee from Zamzam’s former administration, stated, “Their bodies are lying inside homes, in the fields, on roads.” His comments highlight the sad truth and loss for so many victims that the bodies of many victims are still unaccounted for. The RSF is now in control of the camp. They are active participants in a wider war against the Sudanese military that exploded in April 2023.
Reports indicate that hundreds of civilians from Zamzam are still unaccounted for. Sharif provided additional details, disclosing that they are now aware of at least 20 people who have been forcibly transported to Nyala. This site has been an RSF stronghold and is nearly 160 kilometers away from Zamzam. Even seasoned observers are dumbfounded by the scale of violence witnessed during the attack. This savagery is even greater than the genocidal violence perpetrated against ethnic African communities in Darfur in the 2000s.
The violence inflicted upon Zamzam’s residents highlights a broader pattern of brutality targeting “one of the most vulnerable people on earth,” as articulated by humanitarian expert Claire Nicolet. She flagged the rampant looting, sexual violence, and other assaults against displaced people during their travels.
Abdallah Abugarda, an atrocity expert, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The massacre at Zamzam, home to displaced people for over 20 years, is one of the most heinous crimes in recent global history. Yet no global outrage has followed.” Such a statement would invariably beg the question of what international action and accountability can be expected in response to these grievous human rights violations.
Zamzam’s camp has been a shelter for half a million people who have escaped from war and persecution. The continuing armed conflict and insufficient assistance from international actors presents a dire situation for the displaced. Even more survivors are still living in transit-displacement sites with deplorable conditions, still dealing with the trauma of what has just happened.