Sudan’s SamSam Refugee Camp Under Fire, Famine Grips Hundreds of Thousands
The SamSam refugee camp in North Darfur, a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands fleeing violence, has become a terrifying frontline. Since Sunday evening, the camp has been under persistent shelling, plunging its terrified residents into chaos.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), one of the few remaining aid organizations, describes the situation as “catastrophic.” A spokeswoman for the group relayed harrowing visuals of cascading panic as thousands attempted to flee the relentless bombardments. The violence extends beyond the camp’s boundaries, with fierce fighting raging in the surrounding areas, trapping the vulnerable within.
Shelling Near Aid Facilities Raises Fears of Closure
The MSF hospital within the camp also came under fire, prompting a frantic evacuation of the clinic. Mohamed Abdiladiv, interim country director of Save the Children, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “Despite fighting in the surrounding area, SamSam, where aid organizations and UN agencies have their offices, has never come under direct fire.”
He added
“The shelling poses significant risks, including the possible closure of the few existing health and nutrition facilities. Some organizations have already fled SamSam.”
A Dire Humanitarian Crisis
SamSam is a stark testament to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis engulfing Sudan. An estimated 500,000 people have sought refuge within its overcrowded walls, struggling to survive amid dwindling resources. Hunger has taken root, with famine a grim reality within the camp.
For months, thousands have poured into SamSam, desperately seeking safety from the fighting that has consumed El Fasher, the provincial capital. The city, the last major stronghold of the Sudanese government in Darfur, has been besieged by forces loyal to Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Daglo’s forces control most of Darfur, locked in a brutal power struggle with Sudan’s de facto ruler, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, since April 2023.
Conflict-Fueled Displacement
The nationwide conflict has spurred one of the fastest-growing humanitarian crises in recent history. Over 11 million Sudanese have been driven from their homes, with half of them children and young people. Both sides of the conflict stand accused of serious human rights violations, adding another layer of horror to the bloodsheding already sweeping through Sudan.
What are the potential long-term consequences, particularly in terms of health and well-being, if the current situation in Zamzam Refugee Camp persists without intervention?
## Interview: Crisis at Zamzam Refugee Camp
**Anchor:** We’re joined now by Dr. Anya Sharma, a spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, who has been closely monitoring the dire situation unfolding at the Zamzam Refugee Camp in Sudan. Dr. Sharma, thank you for being with us.
**Dr. Sharma:** Thank you for having me.
**Anchor:** The situation at Zamzam sounds absolutely terrifying. Can you describe what’s happening on the ground?
**Dr. Sharma:** The situation is catastrophic. Since Sunday evening, the camp has been under relentless shelling, turning what should be a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands of displaced people into a warzone. People are terrified, families are separated, and the panic is palpable. We’re seeing thousands trying desperatly to flee the violence, but they’re trapped between the fighting in and around the camp [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamzam_refugee_camp)].
**Anchor:** And how is Doctors Without Borders responding to this crisis?
**Dr. Sharma:** We’re doing everything we can with limited resources. Our teams are working tirelessly to provide medical assistance to the injured and to those suffering from the worsening humanitarian conditions. However, the shelling has made it incredibly difficult to reach those in need, and there’s a real danger that our hospital within the camp could be forced to close if the violence continues.
**Anchor:** The news reports mention that the fighting is also cutting off access to aid. What are the implications of this for the displaced people in Zamzam?
**Dr. Sharma:** The implications are devastating. These people have already endured unspeakable horrors, and they’re now facing a potential famine. Food and water supplies are dwindling, and without safe access for humanitarian workers, the situation will deteriorate rapidly. We’re talking about a humanitarian catastrophe in the making if the international community doesn’t act now.
**Anchor:** What is your plea to the international community right now?
**Dr. Sharma:** The world must wake up to the crisis unfolding in Zamzam. We need an immediate ceasefire to allow for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of the most vulnerable. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people hang in the balance. We cannot allow them to be forgotten.
**Anchor:** Dr. Sharma, thank you for your time and for the crucial work that you and your team are doing.
**Dr. Sharma:** Thank you.
