On April 11, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—one of the parties to the conflict in Sudan—and allied armed groups launched a large-scale ground offensive on Zamzam camp in North Darfur, leaving its residents starved, shelled, and deprived of lifesaving assistance. Zamzam is Sudan's largest displacement camp, sheltering about 500,000 people who have been uprooted from their homes throughout the country.
Marion Ramstein, MSF emergency field coordinator in North Darfur, described the situation in Zamzam:
“There are reports of people fleeing and many casualties, although we can’t verify how many at the moment.
“Back in February, we were forced to suspend all MSF activities in the camp because of escalating security issues. Repeated shelling, shooting at our ambulances, and a tightened siege that prevented us from resupplying facilities and sending staff made it impossible for MSF to continue working in Zamzam despite the immense needs.
“The communication network with Zamzam has been shut down. We don’t have news of many of the people who worked with us and decided to remain with their relatives in the camp after the suspension of our field hospital. We’re horrified by what they have to endure, and extremely worried about them and the hundreds of thousands of people already on the brink of survival in the area. We were appalled to learn that nine staff from Relief International were killed. It was the only international humanitarian organization still operating in Zamzam.
Voice note from Tawila
Marion Ramstein, MSF project coordinator in North Darfur, sent us this voice recording about the situation in Tawila, where our staff have seen more than 30,000 people arrive from Zamzam camp and other areas since April 12.
"On April 12 and 13, our team in Tawila saw more than 10,000 people fleeing from Zamzam and nearby areas. They arrived in an advanced state of dehydration, exhaustion, and stress. They have nothing but the clothes they’re wearing, nothing to eat, nothing to drink. They sleep on the ground under the trees. Several people told us about family members left behind—lost during the escape, injured, or killed.”
MSF set up a health post at the entrance of Tawila city to receive the new arrivals and provide water and medical care. Our teams quickly distributed what we had on hand, such as blankets, mosquito nets, and buckets; and we are referring the most critical cases to the local hospital MSF has been supporting since last October. MSF teams are also screening newly arrived children for malnutrition so they can immediately receive therapeutic food and be enrolled in our nutritional program for adequate care.
No end in sight: Sudan’s two years of war
Read moreSince May 2024, sieges and heavy fighting became everyday threats for people living in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, along with nearby displacement sites like Zamzam camp. Violence and starvation have only escalated since then, as well as a spiraling malnutrition crisis documented by several MSF reports. The IPC Famine review committee declared a famine in Zamzam camp last August, but the massive humanitarian response required never materialized.
As the already-desperate situation reaches a new critical threshold, we urge the warring parties in Sudan and all stakeholders with influence to spare civilians, lift the siege, and remove all obstacles depriving people in North Darfur from lifesaving humanitarian aid.
