UN gravely concerned by mass displacement, shelling in Sudan’s North Darfur

April 23, 2025 (NEW YORK,) – The United Nations expressed grave concern on Wednesday over mass displacement and civilian casualties in Sudan’s North Darfur state following the takeover of a major camp by paramilitary forces and continued fighting.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Zamzam camp after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters, adding to the dire humanitarian needs in the El Fasher area. Some residents had lived in Zamzam since the Darfur conflict began in 2003.

“This is the camp where famine conditions have been confirmed… last August – so as you can imagine, the situation is very dire for these people,” Dujarric said.

In recent days, artillery shelling in El Fasher, including the Abu Shouk camp and Daraja Aoula areas, has reportedly caused dozens more civilian casualties, the U.N. said, citing humanitarian partners on the ground.

The influx of displaced people is putting critical pressure on already strained health services, water supplies, and food systems in host communities across North Darfur.

Despite insecurity and logistical constraints impeding access, the U.N. and its partners are scaling up operations, Dujarric said. An aid convoy carrying assistance for up to 40,000 people is planned for the coming days.

“This will be a cross-border mission via the Adre crossing from Chad, travelling via Geneina in West Darfur before reaching Tawila in North Darfur,” he added. The U.N. is working to open sustained access for relief supplies and personnel.

In El Fasher, local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) supported by the U.N.-managed Sudan Humanitarian Fund are running mobile clinics and trucking 20 cubic metres of water daily to 10,000 people.

U.N. agencies and NGOs are urgently adjusting response priorities in light of the crisis within the framework of the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

“We and our humanitarian partners continue to call on all parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, ensure safe passage for civilians, and guarantee facilitate and enable unimpeded humanitarian access,” Dujarric stated.