At least 53 individuals were killed in a shelling and drone assault by Sudanese paramilitary forces on a shelter in the Darfur region, according to a doctors’ group on Saturday. The attack, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city of El Fasher, resulted in the deaths of 14 children and 15 women, with an additional 21 individuals, including five children and seven women, sustaining injuries. Most of the wounded suffered severe injuries.
The targeted shelter, known as al-Arqam Home and situated at the Omdurman Islamic University in El Fasher, was a safe haven for displaced families. The Sudan Doctors Network, a group monitoring the conflict, condemned the attack as part of a ruthless strategy by the RSF against civilians, violating international norms and laws.
Human rights organizations have decried the assault as one of the worst massacres carried out by the RSF in El Fasher, labeling it an act of genocide. The RSF has not yet responded to requests for comments on the incident.
El Fasher has been a focal point of clashes between the Sudanese military and paramilitary forces, with the city being the military’s final stronghold in Darfur. The paramilitaries have besieged the city, leading to a dire humanitarian situation with 260,000 civilians trapped and facing hunger and disease outbreaks, including cholera.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023, escalating into a full-blown war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced over 14 million people, and triggered famine in various parts of the country. The International Criminal Court is investigating the widespread atrocities, including mass killings and sexual violence, as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
