15 civilians killed in drone attacks in Sudan

A total of 15 civilians lost their lives in two separate drone attacks in Sudan's North Kordofan state. The attacks were reported by Emergency Lawyers, an independent group of lawyers documenting the civil war in the country. The areas in question are under the control of a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the official Sudanese army for months. This area, where civilian casualties occurred, is located at a strategically crucial crossroads of the country. Unfortunately, it is feared that civilian casualties will continue to increase due to the intensity of the clashes.

In the first attack, 13 people, including five women, lost their lives in a drone strike on a vehicle carrying guests invited to a wedding. The second attack occurred when another vehicle carrying water was targeted, and two more people lost their lives in this incident. The targeting of civilian objectives in this manner reveals how dangerous it has become for people in the region to even access basic needs. The civil society organization that published the report has not yet clarified which side is responsible for the attacks. Furthermore, this information has not yet been verified by other independent sources, and none of the warring parties have made an official statement on the matter.

These tragic events occurred in the northern parts of the city of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, which has been under siege by RSF forces for months. The El Obeid region is located on a vital highway route connecting the areas controlled by the RSF in Darfur to the territories under the army's control in eastern Sudan. This strategic position has made the city one of the centers of the conflict, both logistically and militarily. The balance of power and struggles for control in the region increase the pressure on the civilian population day by day. This critical location has led the city to become a military target rather than a tourism and trade center between the warring parties.

The United Nations (UN) recently issued serious warnings that the Rapid Support Forces are preparing to launch a major attack on the city of El Obeid. Such a potential siege or conflict could directly endanger the lives of approximately half a million people living in the region. Last Monday, the UN Human Rights Council expressed deep concern over the risk of RSF forces committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region. In particular, the increase in cases of conflict-related sexual violence is among the greatest fears of the international community. UN officials are calling for urgent international intervention and a ceasefire to prevent this humanitarian drama from growing further.

The civil war that began between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023 has dragged the country into a complete disaster. According to United Nations data, tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in these bloody clashes, while millions have been displaced within the country after fleeing their homes. The UN currently describes the situation in Sudan as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and the severity of the situation is steadily increasing. Millions of civilians are left facing the threat of starvation and disease due to the collapse of infrastructure and a lack of food and medical aid. Despite the efforts of the international community, achieving lasting peace and ending this humanitarian catastrophe currently seems like a distant possibility.