An attack by Sudanese paramilitaries in South Kordofan has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals, including five children and two women, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North targeted residential areas in the city of Dilling, shelling the area for several hours. The attack left at least 23 others injured, seven of whom are children. The Sudanese military, which recently lifted an RSF siege on the city, stated that they successfully repelled the attack on the provincial capital.
The Sudan Doctors Network has warned of a potential “catastrophic scenario “reminiscent of the events in Darfur’s el-Fasher in October 2022, where the RSF launched an invasion that was later described by United Nations-commissioned experts as having “hallmarks of genocide.”Over three days, the violence in el-Fasher resulted in over 6,000 deaths, according to the UN Human Rights Office. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF began in mid-April 2023, leading to a rapid escalation of violence and one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises, with over 12 million people displaced and over 33 million in need of aid.
The UN reports that more than 40,000 have been killed over the past three years, with the true death toll potentially much higher. Both sides have faced accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which are under investigation by the International Criminal Court. The recent focus of the fighting has been on Darfur and the Kordofan region, where daily drone strikes have been reported, resulting in over 500 civilian deaths as of mid-March, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
Source: Sudan Doctors Network
