By Shiela McKenzie-
A devastating paramilitary drone strike has killed at least 70 people in Sudan. The horrific Sudan paramilitary attack happened during Friday morning prayers. The target was a mosque in the besieged city of El Fasher in the North Darfur region. According to aid workers and the Sudanese army, the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched the assault. The drone strike completely destroyed the mosque. With bodies still trapped under the rubble, the death toll is expected to climb higher. This latest act of violence adds to the mounting humanitarian crisis engulfing the region.
The mosque was destroyed in the drone strike. BBC
The Sudanese army released a statement mourning the victims. Their statement described the RSF as a “rebel militia” that unjustly targets civilians. The attack took place in an area where many international organizations have already pulled out due to security risks. Details have therefore been difficult to verify independently. Local activists, known as the Resistance Committees, shared a video. It reportedly shows parts of the mosque reduced to rubble with several scattered bodies.
Covered bodies outside a mosque in El Fasher after a drone attack by RSF forces. Photograph: Sudanese Echo
Before and after satellite images showing damage to a building within the former Unamid compound in El Fasher, sustained between 15 and 18 September. Photograph: Maxar Technologies
Before and after satellite images of the Abu Shouk IDP camp showing thermal scarring and damage to several structures that took place in recent days. Photograph: Maxar Technologies
The Context of the Sudan Paramilitary Attack
The recent Sudan paramilitary attack is the latest act of violence in a civil war that has been raging for over two years. The conflict began in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF. El Fasher remains the last major city in Darfur under army control. It has been under siege by the RSF for over a year. The war has displaced more than 12 million people and has pushed much of the population to the brink of famine. UN reports indicate the number of civilian deaths has risen sharply this year, with violence escalating.
The UN Human Rights Office has warned that the situation in the city continues to “rapidly deteriorate.” There are severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. The latest Sudan paramilitary attack shows a flagrant disregard for international and humanitarian law. Human rights organizations continue to monitor abuses. For more information on the ongoing humanitarian crisis, you can read our detailed report here.
The Unfolding Crisis in Sudan
Sudan is currently facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused widespread devastation, leading to a critical shortage of food, water, and medicine. Millions of people have been displaced, creating the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
To learn more about the crisis, you can find a comprehensive overview and updates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) here: Sudan: Humanitarian Crisis
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Key Facts:
- Displaced Persons: Over 12 million people have been forced from their homes.
- Food Insecurity: Nearly 25 million people are facing acute food insecurity.
- Health System: The health system is on the brink of collapse, with many hospitals and clinics destroyed or non-functional.
- Funding Shortage: The humanitarian response plan is critically underfunded, hindering the delivery of essential aid.
