On Thursday 10 April, Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out artillery shelling on the Abu Shouk displacement camp in the city of El Fasher within North Darfur, killing at least 15 civilians and injuring at least 25 others.
Sudan Tribune reported that the attack occurred amid escalating violence in El Fasher, as the RSF continues to repeatedly target various parts of the city including camps such as Abu Shouk, which shelters internally displaced civilians.
North Darfur remains the state with the highest numbers of civilian casualties in the country, amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the RSF.
Attacks on El Fasher specifically have increased within the past few months, with AOAV recording 23 incidents taking place in the city in 2025 so far, resulting in 857 civilian casualties (363 killed). Attacks on the city account for 91% of civilian casualties recorded in 2025.
Moreover, attacks on displacement camps like Abu Shouk camp have similarly increased within the same time period, with AOAV already recording more civilian casualties in displacement camps in the first four months of 2025 than in the entirety of 2024. Overall in 2025, civilian casualties in encampments account for 16% (330) of all casualties recorded in Sudan, and is the third most impacted event location in the country, behind markets and urban residential areas.
Below illustrates the increase in attacks and civilian casualties in encampments since the reignition of fighting in 2023.
The current civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023, between the Sudanese military (SAF) and paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and has continued to spread across the country, causing huge civilian harm and displacement. Sudan is now one of the world’s major conflicts, with AOAV recording consistently high civilian casualty tolls per incident.
Explosive violence in Sudan continues to disproportionately impact civilians, causing unimaginable harm and devastation. Since April 2023, 99% (9,036) of civilian casualties have occurred in populated areas where civilians are likely to be present and harmed.
Event Locations with highest civilian casualties (2023-2025)
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban Residential | 3,454 |
| Market | 1,966 |
| Multiple (Urban) | 1,632 |
| Encampment | 675 |
| Hospital | 400 |
Below shows the regions impacted by explosive violence since 2023:
AOAV reiterates the importance of the international community working together to bring an end to this conflict, to ensure peace and stability is restored in Sudan. The ongoing suffering of the Sudanese people must be at the forefront of all diplomatic efforts in relation to the conflict. AOAV reiterates its condemnation of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and urges the cessation of such weapon use immediately.
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