Sudanese paramilitary drone strike results in deaths of 50 people, including 33 children in Kordofan, according to doctor group

CAIRO A devastating drone strike carried out by Sudanese paramilitary forces struck a kindergarten in the town of Kalogi, South Kordofan, resulting in the deaths of 50 individuals, among them 33 children, according to a medical organization.

Paramedics responding to the scene were hit in what the group described as a second unexpected attack. The true casualty figures may be higher, as communication blackouts in the region have hindered accurate reporting.

This assault comes amid ongoing clashes between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese military, which have been in conflict for over two years. The fighting has recently intensified in the oil-rich Kordofan region.

Sheldon Yett, UNICEFs representative in Sudan, condemned the attack: Targeting children in their school is a shocking breach of their rights. Children should never bear the burden of armed conflict. He called on all parties to immediately halt such attacks and allow safe humanitarian access for those in urgent need.

Recent weeks have seen hundreds of civilian deaths across Kordofan as the conflict escalated following the RSFs capture of the besieged city of el-Fasher in Darfur. Sudanese military airstrikes on Sunday alone claimed at least 48 lives, primarily civilians, in Kauda, South Kordofan.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Trk warned that Kordofan risks experiencing atrocities similar to those that occurred in el-Fasher. The RSFs takeover of el-Fasher involved executions, sexual violence, and other severe violations against civilians, leaving thousands dead or trapped and many more displaced.

The struggle between the RSF and Sudanese military over control of Sudan, ongoing since 2023, has already resulted in more than 40,000 deaths and displaced around 12 million people, though aid groups suggest the actual toll may be significantly higher.

Author: Ethan Caldwell