Tragic Escalation in Sudan Conflict: Airstrikes Claim Lives of 13 Children in North Darfur
The violent conflict between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur has claimed the lives of at least 13 children, with four others left injured, according to a statement from UNICEF. The children, aged between 6 and 17, were caught in the crossfire of a brutal escalation in the ongoing war, which has ravaged the country since April 2023.
The tragic incident occurred last Friday when the Sudanese army launched airstrikes targeting a market in the town of Al Kuma, approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) east of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Local reports from the Daily Sudan Post indicate that the strikes caused widespread devastation in the region, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.
The airstrikes, which also struck the nearby city of Mellit, resulted in at least 45 additional deaths and left dozens injured. Human rights groups, including the Central Observatory for Human Rights and the Sudan Tribune, have condemned the military actions, calling for immediate international intervention to halt the indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas.
Mohammed H. al-Ta’ishi, a former member of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, reported that areas like Hamrat al-Sheikh in North Kordofan, which had previously been untouched by the conflict, were also hit by military strikes over the weekend. Al-Ta’ishi expressed concern about the widening scope of the war, which now threatens previously peaceful regions.
The conflict in Sudan began in the capital, Khartoum, in April 2023 but has since spread across the country, with Darfur experiencing some of the most severe violence. Darfur, a region already scarred by years of ethnic conflict and humanitarian strife, has seen relentless fighting between the Sudanese military and the RSF, both of which are vying for control of strategic locations.
UNICEF’s representative to Sudan, Sheldon Yett, condemned the attacks on children, calling them “unacceptable” and emphasizing the profound impact the conflict is having on the country’s youngest and most vulnerable population. “Children have no role to play in wars or civil conflicts, but they are suffering the most as the conflict in Sudan grinds on,” Yett said. He stressed that children should be protected, whether in their homes, neighborhoods, or the streets and should not be victims of war.
The United Nations has estimated that the ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of 20,000 people and left thousands more injured. The war has also displaced more than 10 million people, with 2.4 million fleeing to neighboring countries. As the humanitarian situation worsens, international agencies are struggling to assist those affected, and there are growing calls for a ceasefire to allow aid to reach civilians trapped in the conflict zones.
Source: Swifteradio
