In the heart of Omdurman, a poignant narrative unfolds that mirrors the collective struggles faced by countless Sudanese displaced by ongoing conflict. Hassan Saber Jumaa, once an esteemed caretaker of the Zamzam displacement camp, now grapples with the loss of both his community and the tangible remnants of their shared history after devastating attacks. This story not only reflects the immediate repercussions of violence but also emphasizes the enduring spirit of those displaced, resilient in the face of adversity.
In a modest home in Omdurman, Hassan Saber Jumaa, an administrator at the Zamzam displacement camp in Sudan, finds himself reflecting on the remnants of a once-thriving community. After his phone was stolen during an attack by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Jumaa’s attempts to locate photographs of Zamzam revealed a painful reality—he is left with only memories of the camp, located near el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which once sheltered hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals.
Established in 2004, the Zamzam camp had become a sanctuary for generations fleeing the violence of the Darfur war, which erupted in 2003 and persisted for nearly two decades. Jumaa reminisces about the vibrant life within the camp, characterized by bustling markets and children attending school, illustrating the sense of normalcy that once flourished amid adversity.
However, this refuge was shattered by the current conflict that erupted in Sudan in 2023. The RSF, engaged in a brutal struggle against the Sudanese Armed Forces, seized control of the camp in April 2025 following months of siege. The harsh reality of famine was confirmed in August 2024, with reports of food scarcity forcing residents to resort to consuming animal feed and peanut shells, a desperate measure for survival.
Umm Kulthum Ali Saleh, who experienced the siege firsthand, described the harrowing struggle for food in the months leading to the attack. She spoke of women cooking grass and blending mud with flour just to make bread—efforts that underscore the devastating impact the blockade had on daily life. Saleh believes the RSF’s actions were not only militaristic but aimed at debilitating the camp’s residents in preparation for their final assault.
On April 11, the RSF launched a relentless three-day offensive, utilizing vehicles, camels, and horses to set fire to homes and health facilities. A United Nations Human Rights Office report subsequently documented over 1,013 civilian deaths, with 319 individuals summarily executed in their own neighborhoods, further exposing the scale of violence targeted predominantly at non-Arab communities.
Witnesses like Mukhtar Musa recounted horrific scenes, including mass killings, where RSF fighters chanted religious slogans as they brutally attacked civilians. Saleh echoed similar sentiments, recalling the bodies scattered in the streets alongside abandoned livestock, painting a grim picture of the aftermath.
The devastating