In a tragic incident, at least 40 civilians lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries in an airstrike on a market in southern Khartoum. This devastating event represents the largest single-incident death toll since the war in Sudan began in April, The Guardian reported.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has now entered its fifth month, with neither side declaring victory nor displaying concrete signs of pursuing mediation. Air and artillery strikes in residential areas have intensified, leading to a growing number of civilian casualties.
The recent tragedy unfolded as drones conducted a series of airstrikes on southern Khartoum, a district primarily occupied by the RSF. Images shared by the Southern Khartoum Emergency Room (SKER), a local volunteer group, depicted numerous injured individuals and what appeared to be covered bodies.
Mohamed Abdallah, a spokesperson for SKER, highlighted the dire situation, indicating that the injured had to be transported on rickshaws and donkey carts. Many residents in the affected area are day workers who, cut off from their jobs, lack the means to escape the capital.
Both the RSF and the Sudanese army have traded accusations regarding the responsibility for the attack and other strikes. Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah, a spokesperson for the Sudanese army, asserted that their attacks target the enemy's groupings and stations in various areas.
The RSF has extended its presence into residential areas across Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman. In response, the Sudanese army has employed heavy artillery and airstrikes to counter the RSF's expansion, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties.
Last week, strikes in western Omdurman claimed the lives of at least 51 people over two days. Given the closure of most hospitals and the absence of functioning local government, volunteers struggle to accurately document the true extent of casualties.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which operates Bashair hospital in southern Khartoum, reported that the crowded Gorro market was hit at 7 am, leaving at least 60 people wounded. Doctors ceased counting casualties as they conducted emergency medical procedures.
Marie Burton, MSF's emergency coordinator, expressed the shock and overwhelming scale of horror faced by volunteers, emphasizing that Khartoum has been in a state of conflict for nearly six months.
SKER released a statement earlier, warning that the hospital, one of the few still operational, was at risk of closure due to dwindling supplies and the challenges faced by staff in reaching it.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF initially erupted on April 15 following tensions surrounding the integration of their troops in a new transition to democracy. Several countries have initiated mediation efforts, but none have succeeded in halting the ongoing hostilities.
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