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More than 400 people have been killed in recent attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Darfur region, says the UN citing “credible sources”.<\/p>\n
Last week, the RSF launched an intense ground and aerial assault on refugee camps surrounding the city of El-Fasher in an attempt to seize the last state capital in Darfur held by their rival, the Sudanese army.<\/p>\n
The two warring sides have been locked in a bloody power struggle since April 2023. This has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and forced millions to flee their homes.<\/p>\n
The UN said it had verified 148 killings between Thursday and Saturday, but warned the toll was much higher.<\/p>\n
UN spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told the BBC their verification process was still ongoing and their number didn’t include Sunday’s violence.<\/p>\n
“Credible sources have reported more than 400 killed,” said Ms Shamdasani.<\/p>\n
At least nine humanitarian aid workers were among those killed, the UN said.<\/p>\n
The refugee camps that surround El-Fasher – Zamzam and Abu Shouk – provide temporary homes to more than 700,000 people, many of whom are facing famine-like conditions.<\/p>\n
In a statement released on Saturday, the RSF said it was not responsible for attacks on civilians and that scenes of killing in Zamzam were staged to discredit its forces.<\/p>\n
The following day, the group said it had completed a “successful liberation” of the camp from Sudan’s army. The RSF accused the army of using Zamzam as “a military barracks, and innocent civilians as human shields”.<\/p>\n
El-Fasher is the last major town in Darfur under army control and has been under siege by the RSF for a year. Sudan’s brutal civil war will enter its third year on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
UN Human Rights Chief Volker T\u00fcrk called on all parties involved to “renew their resolve to take meaningful steps towards resolving the conflict”.<\/p>\n
Ahead of a conference on Tuesday in London to mark the conflict’s two-year anniversary, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced a \u00a3120m food and aid package for Sudan.<\/p>\n
He said Sudan’s stability is “vital for our national security”.<\/p>\n
The UK will co-host the talks alongside the African Union and European Union.<\/p>\n