Massive Fire Destroys Over 1,000 Shelters in South Darfur Camp, Displacing Thousands

Massive Fire Destroys Over 1,000 Shelters in South Darfur Camp, Displacing Thousands
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A major fire has destroyed more than 1,000 shelters at Kalma camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Darfur, western Sudan, leaving thousands of families homeless, according to Sudan’s General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees.

The blaze, which lasted approximately four hours, injured at least one woman. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Local officials said the flames spread rapidly due to narrow pathways and the dense layout of shelters, which are typically constructed from tents and highly flammable materials such as wood and straw.

Kalma camp is one of the largest displacement sites in Sudan, hosting more than 500,000 people who were already living in severe humanitarian conditions. Aid representatives have appealed for urgent international assistance to provide emergency shelter, food, clean water and medical care to affected families.

The incident comes amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023. The war has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced or forced nearly 15 million to flee, according to UN and local estimates, with some studies suggesting significantly higher death tolls.