In the midst of escalating violence in Sudan, a tragic drone strike on a mosque has drawn international concern and condemnation, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation. This incident underscores the urgent need for international intervention and accountability, as the conflict continues to endanger the lives of civilians, including vulnerable children studying in religious settings. Such attacks not only violate humanitarian principles but also raise critical questions about the protection of cultural and religious spaces amidst ongoing civil strife.
A drone attack on a mosque in central Sudan has claimed the lives of two children and left 13 others injured, according to reports from ZezapTV. The Sudan Doctors Network highlighted that the lethal strike occurred at dawn on Wednesday, allegedly executed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group embroiled in a three-year civil war with the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The children were attending Quran studies at the Sheikh Ahmed al-Badawi Mosque in North Kordofan State when the drone struck, which the doctors’ organization condemned as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and an egregious attack on a place of worship. The association stated in a social media post that targeting children within mosques constitutes an indefensible crime and signals a grave escalation in the pattern of attacks against civilians.
Further emphasizing the gravity of these actions, the Sudan Doctors Network noted that RSF has previously targeted other religious structures, including a church in Khartoum and another mosque in el-Fasher. This suggests a systematic approach that reflects a profound disregard for the sanctity of life and religious sites.
In light of these alarming developments, the network called upon the international community, United Nations, and human rights organizations to take urgent measures to halt the ongoing targeting of civilians. They urged for the establishment of safe corridors for the delivery of medical and humanitarian aid and called for comprehensive documentation of these violations, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
The United Nations also reported on Wednesday that a series of drone attacks have recently devastated civilian infrastructure throughout Sudan’s South, North Kordofan and West Kordofan states. Notably, a warehouse belonging to the World Food Programme (WFP) in Kadugli was struck by a suspected rocket attack the previous night. While UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric did not specify which groups were culpable, he lamented the ongoing need to remind that civilians and their infrastructure—particularly places of worship, schools, and hospitals—should never be targeted.
The UN has noted an alarming trend as Sudan’s civil war spreads from western Darfur into the Kordofan region, having documented over 90 civilian deaths and 142 injuries resulting from recent drone strikes attributed to both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces. Reported targets have included World Food Programme convoys, marketplaces, health facilities, and residential neighborhoods in both southern and northern Kordofan.
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