Report

Al-Affad Camp in Sudan: A Portrait of the Suffering of the Displaced from El-Fasher

Agencies – Moatinoon
On the outskirts of the city of Al-Dabba in northern Sudan, thousands of displaced people from the Darfur and Kordofan regions have found temporary shelter in Al-Affad camp, far from the horrors of shelling and massacres they left behind, amid one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Inside tents that offer little protection from the winter cold, the displaced carry stories of loss, pain, and survival. They face harsh living conditions as the camp—home to more than 22,000 people—has become overcrowded, with residents struggling to secure basic needs, especially food and education for children.

Thousands of men, women, and children carried what remains of their lives and traveled long distances in search of safety they had lost in the states of Darfur and Kordofan, torn apart by a war that claims lives and displaces thousands.

Faces worn down by hunger and exhaustion from the long journey of escape reflect tragedy, stories of loss and pain, as well as survival.

Al-Dabba
In Al-Dabba, in Sudan’s Northern State—about 350 kilometers from the capital Khartoum—Al-Affad camp was established last year to accommodate 180 people displaced by the raging war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

As fighting escalated and spread, the camp turned into a main hub for displaced people, particularly after RSF forces overran El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, on 26 October 2025. Thousands fled to Al-Dabba, some 1,200 kilometers from El-Fasher.

RSF Violations
Last October, the RSF seized control of El-Fasher and committed massacres against civilians, according to local and international organizations, amid warnings of the entrenchment of Sudan’s geographic division.

In the face of these atrocities, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti) acknowledged what he described as mere “violations” by his forces in El-Fasher, claiming that investigation committees had been formed.

On 7 December 2025, the Sudan Doctors Network documented that 19 women were raped “by individuals affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces” while fleeing from El-Fasher to Al-Dabba.

On 11 November 2025, UN Women condemned the “crimes of the Rapid Support Forces,” affirming that rape is being used “deliberately and systematically.”

Growing Numbers in Al-Affad
According to previous statements by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator Dits Brown, Al-Affad reached full capacity by hosting 3,000 families. Sudanese authorities say the camp is hosting more than its capacity by over 1,000 families.

More than 4,000 families—around 22,000 people—now live in the camp, struggling to survive under conditions where even basic needs are met only with extreme difficulty.

Most of the displaced came from El-Fasher, though the camp also hosts civilians from Kordofan and Darfur, where clashes continue, forcing them to leave behind their homes, memories, and loved ones.

Despite the provision of basic necessities at a minimal level, many vital needs—foremost among them education for children—still await support and funding.

A Glimpse of the Tragedy
Fakhr al-Din Mohammed Rajab told Anadolu Agency that RSF forces were constantly shelling El-Fasher with artillery, leading to the deaths of a large number of residents.

He added with sorrow: “Because of the shelling, we lost many families. I lived in the Al-Inqaz neighborhood in El-Fasher and we were shelled. Thank God, we managed to reach safety.”

He continued: “I saw scenes that are hard to describe—very painful scenes. I saw children, mothers, and blood.” He paused briefly, then said, “But thank God.” He added: “They took anything valuable, including mobile phones, and left nothing behind.”

“I Couldn’t Find Any of My Children”
Fatima Ahmed Musa said: “I am from the Al-Safaa neighborhood in El-Fasher. I couldn’t find any of my children. I have six sons and two daughters who are missing.” She explained: “I don’t know whether they were killed or are still alive. I left with one of my sons and his three children, and thanks to kind people we managed to arrive.”

She added: “I feel exhausted, and I pray to God to reunite me safely with my children,” expressing her gratitude to benefactors who provide food for the displaced in the camp.

“My Husband Was Killed Before My Eyes”
Another tragedy was lived by Ishraqa Al-Toum, who lived in the Al-Qubba neighborhood in El-Fasher and recounted how her husband was killed in front of her.

She said: “We fled under gunfire. When the shelling intensified, we headed to the First-Class neighborhood, then to the area of Kurma, then to Qarna (North Darfur), and then to Hamrat Al-Sheikh (North Kordofan), which we reached on a tractor.” She added: “My husband was killed when a shell fell on him while we were in the First-Class neighborhood in El-Fasher. He died before our eyes.”

Ishraqa confirmed that large numbers of people were killed and injured in El-Fasher due to heavy shelling of residential areas, forcing them to flee. She added: “At that time, we sometimes did not eat. Now here (in Al-Affad), simple things are being provided, and the current situation is better than before.”

Since April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces have been fighting the Sudanese army over a dispute regarding the integration of the former into the military institution. The conflict has triggered famine amid one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, in addition to the killing of tens of thousands of Sudanese and the displacement of 13 million people.