CAIRO (AP) – Recent attacks by Sudanese paramilitary forces on the town of Misteriha in the North Darfur region have resulted in the displacement of over 3,000 individuals, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. This disturbing development occurs as the ongoing conflict in Sudan approaches its third anniversary, with no resolution in sight.
The Sudan Doctors Network reported that the latest assault on Misteriha, which occurred earlier this week, left at least 28 people dead and 39 others wounded. The organization cautioned that these figures are preliminary and that the actual number of casualties may be significantly higher due to the chaotic nature of the situation.
Misteriha is considered a stronghold for Arab tribal leader Musa Hilal, a member of the Rizeigat Arab tribe, which forms the majority of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The motives behind the RSF's attack remain unclear, and attempts to contact the RSF for further comment were unsuccessful.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military erupted into full-scale war in April 2023, claiming the lives of at least 40,000 people and displacing around 12 million, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Aid organizations have noted that the true death toll could be much higher due to the difficulties faced in accessing remote areas affected by the fighting.
In their report, the Sudan Doctors Network revealed that the displaced families fled Misteriha at night without any possessions, now facing dire shortages of food and shelter. Most of those displaced are women, including many who are pregnant, and they are experiencing "extremely severe" health conditions. The organization has made an urgent appeal for immediate assistance to address the pressing humanitarian crisis.
The RSF ramped up their assaults on Misteriha on Monday, ultimately taking control of the town. This takeover suggests a significant strengthening of the RSF's position in the Darfur region. The RSF previously overran el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, in October 2023, following an 18-month siege. Experts from the United Nations reported that between October 25 and October 27, the RSF was responsible for over 6,000 deaths in el-Fasher, with their actions bearing "the hallmarks of genocide."
In addition, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that his office has recorded a concerning increase in civilian killings in Sudan, with numbers more than two and a half times higher in 2025 compared to the previous year. Thousands of individuals remain missing or unaccounted for amidst the ongoing violence.
"This war is ugly. It's bloody. And it's senseless," Türk commented during a human rights council session in Geneva. He criticized the international community's passive response to the conflict, suggesting that such inaction reveals a troubling moral failure.
Efforts by various nations and organizations to broker peace in Sudan have consistently failed, leaving the conflict to fester and intensify.
