24, Including 8 Children, Killed In Sudan Drone Strike By Paramilitary Group In North Kordofan

A drone strike carried out by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed at least 24 people, including eight children, in central Sudan, according to a medical group monitoring the conflict.

The attack targeted a vehicle transporting displaced families on Saturday near Rahad city in North Kordofan province, highlighting the continued toll of the country's ongoing war on civilians.

The Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks casualties and health conditions amid the conflict, confirmed the deaths and said the victims were families who had already fled earlier fighting. The group reported that among the children killed were two infants.

Attack on Displaced Families Sparks Outrage

According to the doctors' network, the vehicle struck in the drone attack was carrying people who had escaped violence in the Dubeiker area of North Kordofan. Many of the passengers were internally displaced and seeking safety from ongoing clashes between rival forces.

In a strongly worded statement, the network condemned the attack and called on the international community and human rights organisations to act swiftly. It urged global bodies to take concrete steps to protect civilians and hold the RSF leadership accountable for what it described as serious violations against non-combatants.

There has been no immediate response from the Rapid Support Forces regarding the allegations. The RSF has been engaged in a prolonged and brutal conflict with Sudan's national army, with both sides accused of committing abuses against civilians.

A War That Continues to Deepen Sudan's Crisis

Sudan has been trapped in violent turmoil since April 2023, when tensions between the national military and the RSF erupted into full-scale fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country. What began as a power struggle has since evolved into a devastating conflict that has shattered infrastructure, displaced millions and overwhelmed the healthcare system.

United Nations estimates suggest that more than 40,000 people have been killed since the war began, though aid organisations believe the actual death toll could be far higher due to underreporting and limited access to conflict zones.

The humanitarian consequences have been severe. Over 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, creating what the UN describes as the world's largest displacement crisis. The conflict has also triggered disease outbreaks and pushed several regions toward famine, leaving millions in urgent need of food, medical care and protection.

Saturday's deadly drone strike underscores the ongoing danger faced by civilians caught in Sudan's conflict, with displaced families often bearing the heaviest burden of the violence.