Tens of thousands flee RSF attacks in North Darfur

October 18, 2024 (EL FASHER) – Tens of thousands of people have fled to Chad after Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias attacked 13 villages in northwestern North Darfur state, tribal leaders said on Friday.

Earlier this week, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that due to the intensifying conflict in Darfur, close to 25,000 people arrived in eastern Chad in the first week of October alone. That’s the highest number of new arrivals this year within a week. Chad is host to over 600,000 Sudanese refugees – that’s more than any other country.

Adam Mezza, a Zaghawa tribal leader, told Sudan Tribune that 40,000 people fled to the border with Chad after the RSF and allied militias burned 33 villages in Kutum locality.

He said most of the displaced have arrived in the border town of al-Tina, where they face a dire humanitarian situation due to a lack of aid.

“They are living in the open without shelter,” Mezza said, adding that he had contacted authorities and aid organizations to appeal urgent humanitarian assistance.

He accused the RSF and allied Arab militias of widespread abuses and crimes against the displaced, most of whom are from the Zaghawa ethnic group, including ethnically motivated killings and looting of property and livestock.

There are fears that the conflict between the army and the RSF in North Darfur could escalate into ethnic violence due to sharp polarization between population groups in the region.

Arab tribes support the RSF, while African tribes, including the Zaghawa, support the army and allied armed movements.

The clashes in northwestern North Darfur are an extension of the fighting that has been taking place in El Fasher since May. Two weeks ago, the area witnessed bloody confrontations between the RSF and a mobile force belonging to the joint force of armed movements.