It was tragically appropriate that the second anniversary of Sudan's devastating civil war was marked by yet another massacre. At least 400 people were killed [14] when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF [15]) overran the Zam Zam [16] displacement camp in North Darfur on April 11. They also executed 10 staff members in the camp's last remaining clinic [17], including medics and ambulance drivers. Eighty percent of the camp's original 500,000 population has escaped to the nearby government-held town of el-Fasher [16], although the RSF is believed to be trying to stop [18] people—especially young men—from leaving.
Sudan is recognized as the world's largest humanitarian crisis [19] in a conflict marked by both sides' brutality and intransigence. An international conference held in London April 15 pledged millions of dollars in aid but made no progress on ending the war [20]. Instead, regional powers who hold the most sway over the military rivals (including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) disagreed on Sudan's political future [21]. As splits sharpen, the RSF has declared that it is forming a rival government [22]—deepening fears of the permanent division of the country.
From The New Humanitarian [24], April 18. Some internal links added.
