KHARTOUM: A series of air strikes and artillery barrages conducted by Sudan’s warring generals resulted in the death of at least 16 people in a residential area of Khartoum on Tuesday, as reported by a local neighbourhood group. The attacks have added to the rising death toll of the conflict, with over 3,900 people killed across the nation after more than 100 days of war.
The devastating bombardments targeted civilian homes in the Ombada area of Khartoum’s northwest, leading to the tragic loss of innocent lives. Details of the total number of casualties from the strikes are still emerging, according to statements provided to AFP by the neighbourhood group.
Local residents described the horrific aftermath of the attacks, with homes destroyed and bodies pulled from the rubble. The war, which commenced on April 15 between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has forced millions of people to flee their homes, with over 3.3 million displaced.
Numerous battles have unfolded in densely populated neighbourhoods of the capital, Khartoum, and on Tuesday, residents reported a renewed attack by the RSF on the army’s ammunition corps in the city’s south. Additionally, reports have surfaced that civilians in the city’s south and centre are being forcibly evacuated from their homes to be used as bases by fighters.
Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan
The conflict has given rise to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with civilians enduring severe hardships, including a scarcity of essential services such as water and electricity. Healthcare facilities have also been targeted, exacerbating the challenges in obtaining medical assistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) raised concerns about the “appalling” sexual violence perpetrated during the conflict, and a new investigation by the International Criminal Court is focusing on alleged war crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence.
The WHO further warned of the urgent need for a response to prevent disease outbreaks during the rainy season, as malaria, cholera, and other water-borne diseases continue to threaten vulnerable populations, particularly in remote areas.
The conflict has also taken a severe toll on children, with the UN children’s agency reporting “2,500 severe violations of children’s rights” since the fighting began, resulting in hundreds of children killed and injured.
Efforts to mediate and establish peace continue, with the main civilian bloc, the Forces for Freedom and Change, participating in a two-day meeting in Cairo to address the conflict and seek a path towards peace and stability in Sudan. However, despite attempts at negotiation and intervention, an immediate resolution to the war remains elusive, leaving millions of Sudanese people in dire need of aid and protection.
