Sudan: A drone strike attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed 41 people at a camp for displaced civilians in Sudan’s Blue Nile region near the Ethiopian border, according to the rights group Emergency Lawyers.
The attack reportedly struck a displacement camp in the Abu Shandi area on Friday, amid continued fighting between Sudan’s military and the RSF. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was “appalled by horrifying reports” of the incident.
Initial reports indicated that most of those killed or affected were women and children, OCHA said, highlighting the risks facing civilians in areas affected by the conflict.
UN Raises Alarm Over Attacks on Displaced Civilians
OCHA said the area targeted in the reported strike had faced sustained attacks in recent weeks, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes and leaving others exposed to serious danger.
The latest incident adds to concerns over the safety of displaced populations as fighting and drone attacks continue across parts of Sudan. Both the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces have been accused of using drones during the conflict.
The reported death toll was provided by Emergency Lawyers; independent verification of the figures was not included in the available report.
Sudan’s Conflict Continues to Fuel Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan’s army and the RSF have been fighting since April 2023, when a power struggle between the two forces escalated into a nationwide conflict.
The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced more than 14 million from their homes, according to the report, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Millions of people require medical assistance and other emergency support.
The Sudanese army controls much of the country’s central and eastern regions, while the RSF is headquartered in Darfur in the west and also holds territory in the south.
The latest reported strike underscores the continuing threat to civilians, particularly those living in displacement camps and areas experiencing repeated attacks.