By: The Trek News Desk
Sudan’s ongoing civil war witnessed another tragic incident after a drone attack carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck a vehicle carrying displaced civilians, killing at least 24 people. Among the victims were eight children, including two infants, according to the Sudan Doctors Network.
The attack took place on Saturday near the city of Rahad in Sudan’s North Kordofan province. Medical sources stated that the passengers were fleeing violence in the Dubeiker area when their vehicle was targeted.
Condemning the incident, the Sudan Doctors Network described the strike as a “clear violation of international humanitarian law” and termed it a war crime. The organisation alleged that civilians and humanitarian movements are being deliberately targeted and called for an independent international investigation into the attack.
The deadly strike comes amid a surge in drone attacks across North Kordofan, where humanitarian aid convoys and fuel trucks have repeatedly come under fire. A similar attack on Friday resulted in one death and left several others injured.
The North Kordofan state government strongly denounced the attack on a convoy linked to the World Food Programme (WFP) and urged the United Nations and the international community to impose sanctions on the RSF leadership. The attacks reportedly occurred along a crucial road connecting El-Obeid, the state capital, with Kosti in neighbouring White Nile State.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the first drone strike hit three trucks near Er-Rahad at dawn. A second strike followed in the Allah Kareem area, damaging four vehicles transporting UN relief supplies. In Um Rawaba, drones struck a transport truck and a fuel tanker, causing additional civilian casualties.
The United States has also condemned the attacks. US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos said that destroying food meant for famine-affected people and killing humanitarian workers is inhumane. He demanded accountability for those responsible.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown confirmed that the WFP trucks were travelling from Kosti to deliver life-saving food assistance to displaced families near El-Obeid when they were hit.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF is nearing its third year, having already claimed tens of thousands of lives. Nearly 11 million people have been displaced, and several regions are facing conditions akin to famine.
According to UN estimates, more than 20 million people in Sudan are suffering from acute food insecurity, with nearly two-thirds of the population in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Large numbers of civilians have also fled to neighbouring Chad in search of safety.
As violence escalates, attacks on civilians and aid operations continue to raise alarm within the international community, deepening concerns over Sudan’s rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Source: News Agencies
