Four killed in airstrike on Darfur IDP camp, says spokesperson

January 7, 2025 (KUTUM) – The Sudanese army carried out an airstrike on a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in North Darfur, killing at least four and wounding four others, a spokesperson for the displaced in the region said on Tuesday.

The incident, which targeted the Fata Borno camp in the Kutum locality, marks a further escalation in the conflict that has ravaged the region. The Sudanese army has recently intensified airstrikes on cities and villages in Darfur held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“The Fata Borno IDP camp… was subjected to a horrific aerial bombardment that resulted in the deaths and injuries of eight people,” Adam Rojal, a spokesperson for the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur, said in a statement seen by Reuters.

Four women were killed instantly, Rojal said, adding that several others were injured, some seriously. He said that the attack also caused significant damage to homes and shelters.

Rojal condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation of all humanitarian laws and norms.” “Instead of being the protector of the people, the Sudanese army has become a source of terror and destruction,” he added.

The Sudanese army could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rojal noted that Fata Borno was not the first IDP camp to be targeted. Airstrikes and artillery have also hit the Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps, he said. He also accused the RSF of “committing grave violations and horrific crimes against the displaced.”

The RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

IDP camps across Darfur are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with severe food shortages caused by restrictions on humanitarian and commercial access imposed by both the army and the RSF, aid agencies say.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted in mid-April last year, triggering a wave of violence and displacement across the country.