Report: SalaaMedia
The 52 years old, Sayedah Mohamed Hardimi, with her below 13 years old disabled daughter, were forced to leave their home in Al-Ma’had (B) neighborhood due to battles between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al Fashir town and recited to Zamzam Camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) searching of safety. However, the mother and her girl again suffered terror and panic after the camp was subjected to artillery shelling by RSF for days in early December 2024. After taking refuge to Zamzam camp, the woman who teaches physics subject at secondary schools in North Darfur state, was unable to escape this time. She said in a video clip circulated on social media that; she and her disabled girl-child were unable to flee for the second time due to lack of money that would have enabled them to relocate to a safer place. She stated, “Artillery shells from four directions fell near the center of the camp where we live with others.” The loud sounds of the cannons were enough to terrify Sayedah and all the displaced people in the camp, forcing many of them to flee, leaving only her and some families, including disabled and elderly persons, with no options or means to move to a safe haven. The mother added, “Families who had financial abilities left the camp, while we do not have transportation fare.”
Perhaps the cycle of fear and panic that the mother-teacher experienced, represents an example or condition of many others who are taking shelter in Zamzam camp. The camp is one of the largest displacement camps in Darfur, after expanding upon intensification of battles in Al Fashir. Residents sought refuge to this camp considering it as shelters for defenseless displaced persons, on basis of being protected from the warring parties by international laws.
Zamzam IDPs camp was established in 2004, it accommodated people from several areas in the grater Darfur region, fleeing violent armed conflict by then. In 2013 IDPs in the camp were estimated at 147,000 IDP, mostly from Jebel Marra and the northern parts of South Darfur state. Since the beginning of conflict in 2003 through the current war, IDPs number in the camp have exceeded 500,000 persons displaced from other states/ towns within Darfur, especially from Al Fashir, which faced intense hostilities.
A midst circumstances and experience in North Darfur as a result of fighting between SAF and RSF, some organizations celebrated the 16-days of activism to combat gender-based violence. During the activity, six safe spaces were created for women and girls in the at the IDPs camp on event of the intensified artillery shelling.
Artillery Shelling
The warring parties never Zamzam camp from attacks, which is a clear violation to the international law which Sudan has signed. The law emphasizes the protection of displaced populations in conflict areas, and governs the behavior of parties to conflicts, as it stipulates; “Persons protected under this agreement have the right to have their lives, dignity, physical and psychological integrity respected, and it is prohibited to kill them or subject them to torture.”
In the morning of December 1, 2024, the displaced people woke up on sounds of cannons, which led to the killing of 8 IDPs, including women and children. Following the attacks a tug of war prevailed on social media platforms between the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, Minni Arko Minawi, and the Joint Forces on the one hand, and the RSF on the other hand, in which they exchanged accusations regarding responsibility taking the battles field to Zamzam camp. At the same time, Zamzam camp administration called on the UN Security Council to form an investigation committee to investigate allegations around military presence in the camp.
Displacement
In accordance to the displacement matrix, about 739 families were displaced from Zamzam camp between the 6th and 7th of December 2024, due to increasing insecurities following the shelling. The matrix indicated that most families were displaced to Tawila and Dar es Salaam localities in North Darfur, while hundreds of families faced tragic conditions in various villages northwestern Al Fashir.A report issued by IDPS and Refugees’ General Coordination Body in Darfur indicated that Tawila locality in North Darfur received, around 510 families fleeing Zamzam camp on December 6, 2024, as a result of attacks on the camp.
Resolution 1325 and the Dispute
Despite approval Sudanese Government of a national action plan to implement Security Council Resolution No. 1325 regarding women, peace and security, violations at Zamzam camp are inconsistent with the principles of the resolution. Attacks on the camp, which accommodates large numbers of women and children, occurred contrary to the Resolution’s text necessitating women protection from physical violence, and avoiding amnesty on crimes committed against women during wars. A human rights defender and a lawyer, Walid Adam Al-Nur Taqal, says that; the bombing of Zamzam camp is a clear violation of the international humanitarian law and the principles of war that require sparing civilians from effects of conflicts. Mr. Taqal said that; criminal justice standard of the international humanitarian law stipulates that; if there are 50% of civilians present within a conflict zone and the other 50% are combatants; Accordingly, the law requires all of them to be treated as civilians who must be protected. He pointed out that women and children constitute the largest percentage of Zamzam camp’s population, therefore, targeting them is considered a violation of Resolution 1325 and a violation of the international humanitarian law. In consensus with Mr. Tagal, the lawyer Abdullah Mohamed Ibrahim, believes the Resolution 1325 is politically and legally binding for all parties to the war and therefore, bombing of Zamzam camp by RSF is a clear violation of the resolution.
While Rabha Ismail Mohamed, a feminist activist, emphasized that shelling Zamzam camp is not a violation to Resolution 1325 only, instead it violated all international conventions, in consideration of the special status of IDPs camps. She pointed out that; one of the pillars of Resolution 1325, is protection of women, especially in displacement camps. Adding, “the resolution constitutes the protection of women in Zamzam camp, because it is a decision of the Security Council.” She stated, if the warring parties truly adhered to the resolution, women could have avoided the violence they were subjected to during wars.
In general, violations remain as an inherent feature of wars, but what raises concern about them is the wide range of civilian victims, especially women. What happened in Zamzam camp, particularly against women reinforced by the increasing numbers of victims, is evident that the warring parties are indifference with the laws, despite categorization and decisiveness of the international laws and norms to determined how to deal with civilians in situations of conflict. However, the International Community and relevant institutions are required to activate international justice mechanisms to stop the current war, which jeopardizes and complicates the processes of making peace and brining justice to the victims.