Sudan’s RSF converts Zamzam camp into military barracks, escalating humanitarian emergency

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have transformed the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur, once one of the largest havens for civilians fleeing violence—into a full-fledged military barracks. The camp, which had sheltered over 300,000 displaced people and was already facing severe food shortages, has now been repurposed for RSF operations following their consolidation of control in the area.

Eyewitness accounts and reports from humanitarian organizations describe a grim scene: RSF fighters replacing tents with fortified positions, installing checkpoints, and cutting off access to aid workers. With famine already declared in the region, the militarization of Zamzam is worsening the plight of civilians who are either trapped or forced to flee once again.

International watchdogs and rights groups have condemned the move, warning that the use of humanitarian zones for military purposes violates international law and could amount to war crimes. The UN and humanitarian agencies have called for unimpeded access to the area and protection of civilian infrastructure.

This latest development underscores the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces, which has displaced over 12 million people and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.