6 Killed, Dozens Injured in Airstrike Targeting Displacement Camp in Darfur Amid Human Rights Condemnations

6 Killed, Dozens Injured in Airstrike Targeting Displacement Camp in Darfur Amid Human Rights Condemnations
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Aerial bombing targeted the Hamidia displacement camp in Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur, on Monday, resulting in six civilian deaths and dozens of injuries. The attack has raised renewed concerns about the safety of civilians in conflict zones.

According to the Sudanese human rights organization “Lawyers for Emergency,” the airstrike hit essential civilian infrastructure within the camp, which provides humanitarian services. The organization condemned the attack, noting it reflects a recurring pattern of violations targeting civilians and humanitarian facilities in Darfur.

A medical source in Zalingei’s hospital confirmed that at least 15 people, some in critical condition, were admitted following the explosion. The camp shelters thousands of displaced individuals fleeing the ongoing conflict between Sudanese government forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

This airstrike is part of a troubling series of similar incidents in Darfur in recent months, including the bombing of the Fataberno camp in North Darfur, which resulted in the deaths of four women and injuries to three others. Human Rights Watch also documented airstrikes using unguided bombs that targeted residential and commercial areas in Nyala, South Darfur, in June, killing dozens of civilians.

Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, Darfur has faced a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, with millions of displaced individuals living in overcrowded camps lacking basic services and adequate protection.