A drone strike on the paramilitary-controlled town of Kutum in North Darfur, Sudan killed 12 civilians, including six children, local activists and a medical source reported on Thursday.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, comes amid a surge in drone strikes by both Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who have been engaged in conflict since April 2023.
A medical source told AFP that among those brought to the hospital were 12 dead, including six children — three of whom were female secondary school students. Sixteen others, including women and children, were injured and are receiving treatment. The source requested anonymity for safety reasons.
The entity[“organization”,”El-Fasher Resistance Committee”], a pro-democracy group, said the strike hit the Al-Salama neighbourhood near Al-Um Girls’ School and blamed the army for the attack.
Last week, the United Nations reported that drone attacks had killed over 500 civilians between January and mid-March, warning of “the devastating impact of high-tech and relatively cheap weapons in populated areas.”
The conflict, now approaching its third year, has killed tens of thousands, displaced more than 11 million people, and created what the UN describes as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.
