Sudan War: World Urged to Address Sexual Violence
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Report details Mass Killings, Torture at Zamzam Camp in Sudan
Table of Contents
A United Nations report released on December 18, 2023, details atrocities committed during a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) offensive on the zamzam camp for displaced persons in Sudan this past April. The report highlights widespread killings, torture, and abductions, particularly targeting those fleeing the besieged city of El Fasher.
The Attack on Zamzam Camp
The OHCHR report, issued December 18, 2023, describes a three-day offensive by the RSF in April 2023 against Zamzam camp, a haven for internally displaced persons (IDPs) near El Fasher, North Darfur. El Fasher, a city under siege, has seen a massive influx of people seeking safety, making Zamzam camp a critical, and now tragically vulnerable, location.
The report details horrific acts of violence. Survivors recounted instances of targeted killings, with one community leader describing how RSF fighters shot eight men at random after inserting their rifles thru holes in a window where ten men were hiding. The report also documents widespread torture and abductions.
A woman searching for her 15-year-old son after the attack described a scene of desolation: “The camp was empty. I saw scattered dead bodies on the roads. Only chicken, donkeys and sheep were wandering around.” she was unable to locate her son.
Evidence and methodology
The UN’s findings are based on extensive human rights monitoring, including a field mission to eastern Chad in July 2023. Researchers conducted interviews with 155 victims and witnesses who had fled Zamzam camp during and after the RSF offensive. This included a important number of women (114), as well as three girls and six boys, highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
| interviewee Demographics | Number |
|---|---|
| Women | 114 |
| Girls | 3 |
| boys | 6 |
| Total Interviewees | 155 |
Call for Accountability
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights volker Türk has called for an “impartial, thorough and effective investigation into the attack” on Zamzam camp. He emphasized that all those responsible for serious violations of international law must be held accountable through fair legal proceedings. This call for justice underscores the gravity of the alleged crimes and the need to prevent future atrocities.
The report’s release comes amidst a broader conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF,which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and facing food insecurity. The situation in Darfur, in particular, is extremely precarious, with reports of escalating violence and ethnic targeting.