Deadly Drone Strike in Central Sudan Causes Devastation
A tragic event unfolded in central Sudan when a drone strike targeted a vehicle filled with displaced families. The attack claimed the lives of at least 24 people, among whom were eight innocent children, two of them being infants.
The fatal assault occurred near the city of Er Rahad in the North Kordofan province. The vehicle was filled with individuals who were forced to flee due to conflicts in the Dubeiker area.
In addition to the fatalities, several victims were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment in Er Rahad. However, the medical facilities in the city, like many other areas in the Kordofan region, are grappling with a severe shortage of medical supplies.
Call for International Action
Following the tragedy, medical professionals have issued a plea for immediate international intervention. They demand the guilty party be held accountable for these severe violations of human rights and protections for civilians.
The group responsible for the attack, which has been at loggerheads with the Sudanese military for about three years now, has not commented on the incident.
The turmoil intensified in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and this group led to open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other parts of the country. The violent conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and has displaced millions.
Humanitarian Aid Attacked
Just a day before this devastating event, a drone strike targeted an aid convoy in the North Kordofan province, killing one and injuring several others. The convoy was en route to deliver essential food aid to displaced people in the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan when it was attacked, burning the trucks and destroying the much-needed supplies.
"The assault on aid operations hampers efforts to help those dealing with hunger and displacement," said the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan. "Attacking aid workers and humanitarian operations is a disgrace."
Just last week, another drone strike near a food aid facility in the Blue Nile province resulted in injuries to an aid worker.
Accusations of War Crimes
These drone attacks have been widely condemned as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and have been labeled as war crimes. An independent group dedicated to documenting atrocities in Sudan holds the guilty party responsible for these crimes.
A prominent US adviser for African and Arab affairs echoed this sentiment, stating, "Destroying food meant for needy people and killing humanitarian workers is abhorrent. We have no tolerance for such disregard for life and demand accountability."
Similarly, the British minister for international development and Africa labeled the attack on the aid convoy as "disgraceful," adding, "Civilians are starving. Aid workers and humanitarian operations providing vital food should never be targeted."
International Condemnation
On the same day, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry castigated the group for its recent drone strikes, including those on the vehicle carrying displaced families, the food aid convoy, and a hospital in Kordofan that claimed 22 lives.
The statement from Saudi Arabia called for an immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and aid convoys. It also criticized foreign entities that continue to illicitly supply arms, mercenaries, and foreign fighters, potentially referring to the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of supporting the paramilitary group. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations.
Escalating Crisis
Recently, Kordofan has become a battleground, and the army managed to break the group's siege of two major cities in the region earlier this year. This devastating war has claimed more than 40,000 lives according to UN figures, but aid groups suggest the actual figure could be much higher.
This conflict has resulted in the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with over 14 million people forced to leave their homes. It has also triggered disease outbreaks and pushed parts of the country into famine, which continues to spread as the war shows no signs of ending.
The country director for Save the Children in Sudan highlights the dire situation, stating, "Children are already dying from hunger-related causes in many parts of Sudan. Every day we hear heartbreaking stories of parents selling their last belongings to keep their children alive for another day."