Sudan’s “Forgotten War” Deepens: Drone Strike on Displacement Camp Signals Worsening Crisis

DARFUR - A drone strike on a mosque at a displacement camp in Sudan's North Darfur region has killed at least 75 people, most of whom were civilians. This attack in the Abu Shouk Displacement Camp near El Fasher is a tragic example of the increasing violence in Sudan's civil war, which many humanitarian groups call a "forgotten crisis." The incident underscores how the conflict is reaching new levels of humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, particularly for those seeking refuge.

The Numbers Behind a Deepening Crisis 📊

The war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has had a devastating impact on the civilian population. Data from the UN and humanitarian organizations reveal the scale of the crisis:

• Displacement: Sudan is now the world's largest displacement crisis. Over 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with more than 11 million internally displaced and over 3 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries like Chad and South Sudan. The majority of those displaced are women and children.
• Civilian Deaths: The rate of civilian casualties has surged. A recent UN Human Rights report documented at least 3,384 civilian deaths in the first six months of 2025 alone. This figure is a sharp increase, representing nearly 80% of all civilian deaths documented during the entire year of 2024.
• Food Insecurity: The conflict has pushed a staggering 24.6 million people into acute food insecurity, with some areas, including displacement camps in Darfur, already facing famine conditions.
• Humanitarian Aid: The humanitarian response is critically underfunded. The UN has appealed for $4.2 billion to deliver aid in 2025 but faces a significant shortfall as donor contributions have slowed.

The Erosion of Safe Zones and Growing Ethnic Tensions

The strike on the Abu Shouk camp is particularly concerning because displacement camps are intended as safe havens. The repeated attacks on these sites suggest that no area is truly secure for civilians. This creates a vicious cycle of displacement and fear, with families forced to flee multiple times.

The conflict has also been marked by growing ethnic violence, with the UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan reporting that both the SAF and RSF have committed war crimes. The RSF, which grew out of the Janjaweed militias from the Darfur conflict, has been accused of ethnically motivated killings and persecution against non-Arab communities.

The World's Response and the Road Ahead

Despite the overwhelming statistics and evidence of widespread atrocities, Sudan's crisis has been largely overshadowed by other global events. The UN is urging the warring parties to adhere to international humanitarian law by protecting civilians and allowing unimpeded access for humanitarian aid. Calls for greater international attention and financial support are growing, with some human rights groups demanding investigations and accountability for alleged war crimes.

The situation remains dire, and the human cost of the conflict continues to rise. The question now is whether this latest tragedy will be the catalyst for the world to finally pay attention and act to prevent further catastrophe.