EL FASHER, Sudan A brutal attack on the Dar al-Arqam Displacement Centre in El Fasher, North Darfur, has reportedly killed 17 children, including a seven-day-old infant, and injured 21 others, according to the UN children’s agency, UNICEF. The facility was sheltering families displaced by the ongoing conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army.
Media reports indicate that up to 60 people were killed in Saturday’s assault, which took place amid a siege that has gripped El Fasher for over 500 days, severely restricting access to food, water, and medical care.
“This devastating attack on children and families who were already displaced and seeking safety is an outrage,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. She condemned the violence as a grave violation of children’s rights and called for accountability for those responsible.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
North Darfur has been experiencing famine-like conditions for months, with severe acute malnutrition among children rising sharply. Health facilities report increasing numbers of preventable child deaths linked to hunger and disease. Aid convoys have been looted, supply routes disrupted, and humanitarian access denied, making relief efforts nearly impossible.
UN Calls for Immediate Ceasefire and Accountability
Denise Brown, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, issued a strong condemnation of the repeated targeting of civilians. “Hospitals, shelters, and places of refuge must not be targeted,” she said, urging respect for international humanitarian law and demanding impartial investigations into the attacks.
The UN reiterated its calls for:
- An immediate ceasefire and lifting of the siege.
- Safe passage for civilians fleeing violence.
- Unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations.
- Accountability for attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
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