At least 28 civilians have died following two drone strikes targeting civilian areas in Sudan, as the country’s civil war continues to escalate.

 

According to The Guardian, one of the attacks struck a busy market in Saraf Omra in North Darfur, killing 22 people, including a child, and injuring at least 17 others. A local health worker confirmed that the drone hit a fuel truck parked near the market, triggering a fire that spread quickly through the area.

 

Eyewitness Hamid Suleiman, who was present at the scene, said the explosion caused widespread destruction, with stalls and nearby goods destroyed in the blaze, as reported by The Guardian.

 

In a separate incident, another drone strike targeted a civilian truck along a major road in North Kordofan. Hospital sources in El Rahad reported that six people were killed and 10 others injured, with some bodies severely burned. The attack has been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to reports by The Guardian.

 

The conflict in Sudan began on 15 April 2023 in the capital, Khartoum, after tensions between the national army and the RSF turned into full-scale fighting. Since then, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes.

 

According to the United Nations, more than 11.6 million people have been displaced, making the situation one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Large parts of the country are now facing severe food shortages, with famine risks increasing.

 

Civilian casualties from drone attacks have also risen sharply. The United Nations reported that over 500 people were killed by drones between January and mid-March this year, particularly in the Kordofan region.

 

In another recent incident, a drone strike on a hospital in East Darfur killed at least 64 people and injured dozens more, with reports indicating that the strike was carried out by army forces, according to the World Health Organization.

 

As the war approaches its fourth year, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with both sides accused of targeting non-military areas.