Three aid workers killed and four injured in drone attack by RSF in Sudan’s Kordofan region.
The recent drone attack on an aid convoy in Sudan underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis amid the ongoing civil conflict, where vital support is systematically targeted. This act of violence not only highlights the perils faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones but also raises critical questions about the international community’s response and commitment to protecting those delivering aid to affected populations.
At least three aid workers were killed, and four others injured in a drone strike by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on an aid convoy in Sudan’s South Kordofan state, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. This incident marks a tragic escalation in the violence that has engulfed the nation, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation for civilians. The convoy, which was carrying essential food and supplies, was ambushed in the Kartala area while on its way to the cities of Kadugli and Dilling.
The Sudan Doctors Network denounced this attack as a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law, emphasizing that it constitutes an egregious affront to the protection of humanitarian workers. In a statement, the organization noted that this marks the second such incident within less than a month, following a similar event where a United Nations aid convoy was shelled in the town of Al-Rahad. The network warned that these aggressions threaten the safety of humanitarian operations and exacerbate civilian suffering, calling for urgent international intervention.
The Sudan Doctors Network reiterated its appeal to global entities, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, to exert pressure on the leadership of the RSF. It called for the implementation of safe and sustainable humanitarian corridors and for accountability measures against those responsible for targeting aid convoys.
ZezapTV was unable to independently verify the details of this latest attack, which occurred shortly after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced that they had lifted a nearly two-year-long RSF siege on Dilling. This city is strategically located between Kadugli, the besieged state capital, and El-Obeid, the capital of neighboring North Kordofan province, which has been subject to encirclement by the RSF.
The ongoing civil war between the RSF and the SAF, which has intensified since April 2023, has led to significant casualties, with thousands killed and millions displaced. After being driven out of Khartoum in March, the RSF has redirected its focus to the Kordofan region and El-Fasher city in North Darfur, the military’s last stronghold until it was seized by the RSF in October.
Emerging accounts of mass killings, rape, abductions, and looting have arisen following El-Fasher’s takeover, prompting the International Criminal Court (ICC) to initiate a formal investigation into alleged “war crimes” committed by both factions. The United Nations’ Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has reported that the RSF conducted a “coordinated campaign of destruction” aimed at non-Arab communities around El-Fasher during its protracted siege, evidencing potential acts of genocide.
According to the fact-finding mission, the RSF’s actions fulfill at least three of the five criteria that define genocide, which include the killing of members of protected ethnic groups and intentionally inflicting conditions of life meant to destroy these groups physically. Following the release of this significant report, the United States imposed sanctions on several senior RSF leaders for their involvement in what has been termed a horrific campaign during the siege and capture of El-Fasher.
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