At least 127 civilians bombed and killed in Sudan

At least 127 civilians bombed and killed in Sudan

At least 127 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Sudan on Monday and Tuesday by barrel bombs and shelling by the warring factions, human rights activists say. The 20-month-old war between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is becoming increasingly bloody, while efforts to reach a ceasefire have stalled and other crises dominate global attention.

Rising violence and airstrikes

The military has increased its airstrikes in areas controlled by the RSF. At the same time, the RSF Raids on villages as well as intensive Artillery attacks carried out. Both sides have densely populated Civil areas targeted.

Insight into the tragedy of Kabkabiya

More than eight barrel bombs hit the market in the town of Kabkabiya in North Darfur on Monday, according to the pro-democracy Al-Fashir Resistance Committee. Over 100 people were killed and hundreds injured, according to human rights group Emergency Lawyers. The military has frequently targeted towns in North Darfur with airstrikes as it battles the RSF for control of the capital's al-Fashir base, considered the last stronghold in the region.

When asked about the incident in Kabkabiya, the military denied any responsibility but stressed its right to attack any location used by the RSF for military purposes. There was initially no response from the RSF.

Visual evidence of violence

A screenshot shared by Emergency Lawyers showed bodies wrapped in necropsy in a mass grave site. A video verified by Reuters showed bloodied bodies in the marketplace. There were also fires and people being rescued from the rubble of shops and fruit stands.

The videos document the desperate cries of people as others pray for the deceased. A man can be heard saying, “People are dying in large numbers.” Armed men in the headscarves typical of RSF soldiers can also be seen on motorcycles.

Casualties among civilians

An activist from Kabkabiya said that while some soldiers could be found in the market and other parts of the city, the overwhelming majority were civilians. He reported 87 bodies identified, but noted that some were too badly burned or disfigured to be identified.

On Tuesday, the RSF directed heavy artillery fire at a military-controlled sector in Omdurman, part of Khartoum state. Emergency Lawyers reported that at least 20 people were killed, including at least 14 passengers on a bus that was hit. The army-controlled state government said 65 people were dead and reported that other injured people were taken to the nearby Al-Naw hospital.

The humanitarian crisis is worsening

Images circulating on social media that have not been verified by Reuters show the bodies on the road among vehicle wreckage. The United Nations has said over 30 million people need humanitarian assistance, while around 12 million have been forced to flee their homes. Famine has already been declared in the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur. Seven people were killed there by artillery fire on Tuesday, said Adam Rojal, spokesman for the Coordination Committee for Displaced Persons.