Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have claimed control of a key refugee camp in the Darfur region, following a deadly offensive that has left more than 400 people dead and forced thousands of civilians to flee.

The RSF launched a coordinated land and air assault around the city of el-Fasher, the last remaining Darfur state capital under control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The attack targeted densely populated areas, including multiple displacement camps that had been sheltering civilians fleeing earlier waves of violence.

According to aid agencies and local reports, the offensive has triggered a new wave of mass displacement, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis in the region. Access to food, water, and medical supplies remains severely limited.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a brutal internal conflict between the SAF and RSF, both vying for control of the country. The ongoing power struggle has devastated the country’s infrastructure, displaced millions, and led to widespread reports of human rights abuses.

El-Fasher’s fall would mark a significant strategic gain for the RSF, giving the group near-total control over Darfur. However, the SAF has yet to confirm the loss of the city or surrounding camps.

The United Nations and international aid organizations have raised alarms over escalating violence in the region, calling for immediate humanitarian access and renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire.