At least 14 people have been killed following a shelling attack by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a displacement camp in Darfur, according to local volunteer rescue groups.
The attack took place on Sunday at Abu Shouk camp, which shelters tens of thousands of people already displaced by years of violence in the region.
The local Emergency Response Room, one of the volunteer-led aid groups operating on the frontlines of Sudan’s ongoing civil war, confirmed that artillery shells hit various parts of the camp, including a market, mosques, and homes located near public facilities.
Due to safety concerns, responders were unable to carry out a full assessment of the casualties.
Abu Shouk, located in the western part of Sudan, has become a refuge for those fleeing not only the latest fighting but also previous conflicts in Darfur.
Since the RSF took control of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, in March, the group has escalated attacks on El-Fasher—the last state capital in Darfur still under army control—and on neighbouring camps such as Abu Shouk and Zamzam.
Just last month, the RSF captured Zamzam after a bloody offensive that led to the mass displacement of around 400,000 people. The camp was once home to nearly a million displaced individuals.
Sudan’s civil war, now entering its third year, has deeply fragmented the country. The army maintains control over central, eastern, and northern regions, while the RSF and its allies hold large parts of the west and south, particularly the Darfur region.
Meanwhile, in the capital Khartoum—over 1,000 kilometres east of Darfur—a major electricity blackout has brought healthcare services to a standstill.
According to medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the blackout has severely disrupted operations at two key hospitals supported by the organisation: Al Nao and Al Buluk, both located in the capital’s twin city, Omdurman.
The blackout, which has lasted several days, was triggered by drone strikes on three power stations last Wednesday.
The attacks have been blamed on the RSF, which has stepped up its aerial offensive against infrastructure in army-held areas, including Port Sudan, the military’s administrative hub.
The MSF said the affected hospitals are now without electricity, oxygen, or running water, making it impossible to deliver adequate medical care.
The water network across the city has also collapsed, prompting fears of a possible cholera outbreak as residents resort to unsafe sources of water.
The World Health Organisation has warned that Sudan’s healthcare system is nearing collapse. The country’s doctors’ union reports that around 90 per cent of hospitals have been forced to close at some point during the war due to attacks, looting, and lack of supplies.
As the conflict drags on, civilian suffering continues to intensify across Sudan, with no sign of resolution in sight.
