A drone strike carried out by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in the deaths of 41 people in the Blue Nile region, near the border with Ethiopia. The attack, which took place on Friday, targeted a camp for displaced individuals located in the Abu Shandi area, according to the legal rights organization Emergency Lawyers.
The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) expressed deep concern, stating they were “appalled by horrifying reports” regarding the incident. Preliminary findings indicate that a significant number of the victims were women and children, with eight children reportedly among those killed in the strike. Ocha also noted that the affected area has been subjected to continuous attacks over the recent weeks, leading to the displacement of thousands and placing many civilians in immediate danger.
This violent event is part of a broader, ongoing power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF that escalated in 2023. The conflict has caused a severe humanitarian crisis, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 14 million people across the nation. Millions of residents currently remain in urgent need of medical assistance due to the devastation caused by the fighting.
Control of Sudanese territory remains divided, with the army holding authority over much of the central and eastern regions. Meanwhile, the RSF maintains its headquarters in the western Darfur region while continuing to occupy various territories in the south. Both factions involved in the civil war have faced accusations of employing drone strikes throughout the course of the conflict. The international community continues to monitor the situation as the violence shows little sign of abating.
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