31 dead in attack on refugee camp in Sudan – humanitarian crisis escalates!

31 dead in attack on refugee camp in Sudan – humanitarian crisis escalates!

A shocking tragedy has occurred in Sudan in recent days. At least 31 people were killed in an attack on the Abu Shouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of the town of El Fasher in North Darfur. According to that Sudan Doctors Network 13 other people were also injured. This violent clash is part of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, where a civil war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army has been raging since April 2023.

The RSF have reportedly attacked the refugee camp at least 16 times in the first half of the year, killing more than 200 people and injuring many more. The humanitarian situation in the camp is catastrophic as there is a lack of medicine, medical staff and food. These bottlenecks are the result of a siege of El Fasher by the RSF, which has also blocked trade routes and supply lines. Because of these blockades, some residents are forced to survive on animal feed and food waste.

Humanitarian crisis

According to the UN, the conflict in Sudan has become the largest hunger crisis in the world. Around 25 million people, about half of Sudan's population, suffer from acute hunger, while 3.5 million women and children suffer from malnutrition. The rising prices of remaining foodstuffs are leading to extreme conditions in the affected regions.

The Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army face serious allegations of human rights abuses. The ongoing war and the associated fighting are having a devastating impact on the civilian population and the social structure of the country, which includes more than 50 million people. Sudan, officially the Republic of Sudan, is the third largest country in Africa and has been suffering from political and economic crises for years.

Geopolitical context

Historically, Sudan has experienced a checkered history, starting with the ancient cultures that existed there, through colonial oppression and various civil wars. After independence in 1956, a protracted conflict followed between the Islamic northern half and the animist/Christian southern half of the country. This ultimately led to the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

The current political situation is characterized by military influence, which has increased since the rule of Omar al-Bashir (1989-2019). Protests in 2018 led to his ouster, but the transition process that followed is unstable. Sudan has evolved from an authoritarian Islamic republic to a secular state, but current conflicts are threatening this progress.

This humanitarian disaster in Sudan has received limited international attention, raising questions about the global community's obligations to intervene in crisis situations. The situation remains tense and urgent measures are needed to alleviate the emergency in the region.