Dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in a drone strike that hit a displacement shelter in El Fasher, North Darfur — the last major city in the region still held by the Sudanese army. Local activists described the attack as one of the deadliest in recent months, further deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
According to the El Fasher Resistance Committee, a local network of civilians and activists, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck Dar al-Arqam camp — located within a university compound — using two drones and several artillery shells. The group said the attack caused “massive civilian casualties,” accusing the RSF of “deliberate targeting.” The RSF, however, denied responsibility for the strike.
Medical workers from the Sudan Doctors Network reported at least 57 people killed, including 17 children, while dozens more were wounded. Witnesses described horrific scenes of chaos as rescuers pulled bodies from burning debris. Hospitals in the city, already crippled by shortages of medicine and electricity, were overwhelmed with casualties, forcing doctors to treat the injured on the floors.
El Fasher has been under a 17-month siege by RSF forces seeking to capture the Sudanese army’s last stronghold in Darfur. If the city falls, analysts warn that the RSF would control nearly all of Darfur — a region already devastated by years of ethnic violence and displacement.
The United Nations estimates that around 250,000 civilians are currently trapped in El Fasher, cut off from food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned the latest strike, calling it a “shocking violation of international law” that could amount to war crimes.
Residents say hunger and disease are spreading rapidly, with water supplies running dry and prices of essential goods skyrocketing. In recent days, artillery fire and drone strikes have intensified, hitting schools, markets, and one of the city’s last functioning hospitals.
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023, following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. The conflict has since spiraled into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with more than 150,000 people killed and over 12 million displaced.
As international efforts to broker a ceasefire stall, aid agencies warn that El Fasher could face a complete collapse unless urgent action is taken to protect civilians and restore access for humanitarian relief.