Sudan Drone Strikes Claim 28 Civilian Lives in Darfur and Kordofan
At least 28 civilians have been killed in two separate drone strikes in Sudan, one targeting a market in Darfur and another hitting a road in Kordofan, as the conflict continues to escalate dramatically. Health workers reported that a strike on Wednesday, March 25, in Saraf Omra, located in North Darfur, killed 22 people, including a child, and injured 17 others.
"The drone hit a parked oil truck, which caught fire along with part of the market," said Hamid Suleiman, a local vendor who witnessed the tragic incident. The attack caused widespread destruction and panic among residents.
Second Strike in North Kordofan Adds to Civilian Toll
Hundreds of kilometres away in North Kordofan, another drone strike set a vehicle ablaze on a road between El-Rahad and Um Rawaba, killing six civilians. "Six bodies arrived at the hospital yesterday, three of them charred, in addition to 10 wounded," a medical source revealed, directly blaming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the attack.
These attacks are part of a wider pattern of escalating drone warfare between Sudan's army and the RSF, with both sides accused of targeting infrastructure and civilian areas indiscriminately. According to the United Nations, more than 500 civilians have been killed in drone strikes between January and mid-March alone.
UN Appeals Fall on Deaf Ears as Crisis Deepens
The UN has repeatedly called for restraint and the protection of civilians, but these appeals have had little effect on the ground. The ongoing war, which began in April 2023 between former allies turned rivals, has killed tens of thousands and displaced around 11 million people, creating what the UN describes as the world's largest hunger and displacement crisis.
Recent incidents have further heightened international concerns, including:
- A devastating strike on El-Daein Teaching Hospital in Darfur that killed 70 people
- Another attack near the Chadian border that left 24 dead
Regional and International Responses Intensify
Chad's information minister, Gassim Cherif Mahamat, warned that his country was preparing a "proportionate response" if further cross-border attacks occur. Meanwhile, the UN's new envoy to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, has begun a visit aimed at supporting peace efforts, as international calls for a ceasefire continue to grow louder.
The situation remains volatile, with civilian populations caught in the crossfire of a conflict that shows no signs of abating. International observers express grave concern about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding across Sudan.
