At least 73 children and 22 elderly people have died from hunger and disease in the past 40 days after fleeing Sudan’s Abu Shouk camp in North Darfur,according to activists.
The camp,which once sheltered more than 190,000 displaced people,has endured relentless artillery and drone assaults,forcing thousands to escape towards El Fasher. In late August,the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the camp,reportedly killing about 40 people,abducting others,and destroying 98 percent of its water infrastructure. Activists warn that those displaced now live in makeshift sites in and around El Fasher under “extremely harsh” conditions,with almost no access to food,medicine,or basic services. Malnutrition is rising sharply,compounded by the collapse of free community kitchens,where a single meal for 20 families now costs over 9 million Sudanese pounds.
The Abu Shouk Emergency Room described a rapidly deteriorating situation,with unburied bodies lying near displaced communities due to insecurity,raising the specter of a major health disaster. The group has urged international organizations to intervene and establish safe humanitarian corridors for civilians trapped in conflict zones. Despite RSF assurances of safe passage,thousands of civilians continue to face arrest,torture,and even execution on accusations of supporting the army or allied groups. The crisis underscores the escalating human toll of Sudan’s conflict,particularly on vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
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