KHARTOUM: At least 20 civilians, including two children, were killed in an air strike in the southern part of Sudan’s capital of Khartoum as the city residents woke up to the sound of artillery and rocket fire on Sunday morning. Sudanese activists have reported on the devastating toll of the attack, shedding light on the ongoing violence plaguing the region.
The resistance committee of the affected neighborhood issued a statement confirming that the death toll from the aerial bombardment in southern Khartoum had reached 20 civilian fatalities. These committees, which previously organized pro-democracy demonstrations, have now taken on the crucial role of providing assistance to families caught in the crossfire between the regular army and paramilitary fighters.
In an earlier statement, the committee revealed the heart-wrenching fact that among the victims were two children. Additionally, they raised concerns that more fatalities may have gone unrecorded due to the severity of injuries sustained during the bombing, which left some individuals with burns or torn into pieces.
The conflict that erupted on April 15 has witnessed approximately 5,000 casualties, according to estimates from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project. The Sudanese Armed Forces maintain control of the skies and have conducted frequent air strikes, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) exert their dominance on the streets of the capital.
Western nations have accused the paramilitary and allied militias of ethnically motivated killings in the western Darfur region. The International Criminal Court has initiated a new investigation into alleged war crimes. The regular army has also faced allegations of abuses, including an air strike on July 8 that claimed the lives of around two dozen civilians.
Humanitarian Implications of Sudan Conflict
The situation in Sudan has dire humanitarian implications, with over half of the country’s 48 million inhabitants now requiring humanitarian aid and protection. Additionally, six million people are on the brink of famine, as reported by the United Nations.
Despite ongoing insecurity, looting, and bureaucratic challenges, the UN has managed to deliver aid to millions in need. The conflict has internally displaced approximately 3.8 million individuals, and another million have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
Among the displaced are nearly 2.8 million from Khartoum, according to the International Organization for Migration, representing more than half of the capital’s pre-war population of approximately five million.
Residents who have chosen to remain in Khartoum are forced to take cover from the ongoing crossfire, facing hardships such as water and electricity shortages. In this challenging environment, resistance committees have emerged as lifelines, tirelessly working to rescue survivors trapped in the rubble of bombed buildings, navigating through gunfire to deliver essential medical supplies, and documenting atrocities committed by both sides of the conflict.
