Sudan Paramilitary Drone Strike Kills 41 Near Ethiopian Border
Rights group reports attack targeted a camp for displaced people in the Blue Nile region, with initial reports suggesting many casualties were women and children.
A drone strike by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group has killed 41 people in the Blue Nile region bordering Ethiopia, according to the rights group Emergency Lawyers. The attack, which occurred Friday in the Abu Shandi area, targeted a camp housing displaced individuals.
The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) stated it was "appalled by horrifying reports" and indicated that preliminary information suggests a majority of those killed were women and children. Eight children are reported to be among the victims.
The conflict between Sudan's army and the RSF, which began in 2023, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced over 14 million people, creating a severe humanitarian crisis. The army generally controls central and eastern Sudan, while the RSF, headquartered in Darfur, also holds territory in the south.
Both factions have been accused of employing drone attacks in the ongoing power struggle. Ocha noted that the area reportedly struck on Friday had experienced sustained attacks in recent weeks, leading to the displacement of thousands of civilians and exposing many more to significant harm.