Zamzam Camp: A Refuge Turned Battlefield

Once a haven for over 700,000 internally displaced individuals, Sudan's Zamzam camp has turned into a scene of horror following a brutal attack by paramilitary forces last week. For many, it was supposed to be a place of refuge from the torment of the Darfur conflict. But chaos erupted as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an aggressive assault in a bid to gain territory from the Sudanese army.

A Mother’s Harrowing Escape

Amidst the chaos, Fathiya Mohammed, a 28-year-old survivor, embarked on a harrowing journey. Carrying her child on her back and another in her arms while balancing their limited possessions on her head, she spent four grueling days walking barefoot to the town of Tawila. Her husband is missing, leaving her in anguish as she recounts the devastation.

Lost Everything in the Flames

Saadiya Adam, another victim of the assault, lost everything when her makeshift home was engulfed in flames. "They burned my house in Zamzam and my sheep too," she lamented. Like many others, she and her two young children faced the perils of the journey, ultimately arriving at a town overwhelmed by an influx of desperate refugees.

Tawila’s Healthcare System on the Brink

The hospital in Tawila is inundated, with over 20,000 people streaming in for medical treatment in just two days. Doctors Without Borders reports a staggering rise in gunshot and blast injuries among the new arrivals. Head nurse Tiphaine Salmon detailed the heartbreaking cases: "A seven-month-old baby arrived with bullet wounds; she couldn’t cry anymore."

Tragic Tales of Survival

Witnesses share chilling accounts of the attack. Issa Abdullah described being ambushed by RSF gunfire: "We were six, and they opened fire. I was hit in the head, but I’m okay now. Others are in much worse shape." Hussein Khamis, who was shot in the leg, detailed the nightmarish trek to safety, marred by robbery and violence.

A Community in Mourning

Reports indicate that many vulnerable individuals were left behind, unable to escape. According to Marion Ramstein of MSF, nearly everyone they meet has lost a family member in the attack. Zamzam camp, established in 2004 to protect those fleeing ethnic conflict, now stands as a stark reminder of the ongoing turmoil.

A Call for Peace

As the RSF strengthens its grip on western Sudan, including Darfur, the specter of a divided nation looms. In the midst of her loss, Fathiya Mohammed voices the shared sentiment of countless affected families: "We want the war to stop. Peace is the most important thing."