Synopsis
On January 20, a government official reported that an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in North Darfur resulted in the deaths of 18 civilians and injuries to five others, prompting calls for international intervention.Key Takeaways
- 18 civilians dead in North Darfur attack.
- Rapid Support Forces (RSF) involved.
- Calls for UN intervention.
- Ongoing clashes between SAF and RSF.
- Significant humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Khartoum, Jan 20 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred in which at least 18 civilians lost their lives and five others were injured due to an assault by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a village located in North Darfur State, western Sudan, as reported by a government official.
On Saturday, the RSF militia executed a massacre in Jebel Hilla village, situated east of the Um Kadada district in North Darfur, according to Ibrahim Khatir, director-general of the state's health department. He condemned the organized targeting of civilians by the RSF as a flagrant violation of international law and norms.
Khatir called upon the United Nations and other global organizations to step in and ensure accountability for the perpetrators, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
As of now, the RSF has not provided any comments regarding this attack.
Meanwhile, the Sixth Infantry Division of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) stated in a release that their warplanes conducted three airstrikes on Saturday, targeting RSF positions in the northeastern and southern regions of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 40 RSF fighters and left many others injured.
Since May 10, 2024, violent confrontations between the SAF and the RSF have been ongoing in El Fasher.
The El Fasher Coordination of Resistance Committees, involved in relief efforts for war victims, reported that the RSF had deliberately shelled the Zamzam camp on January 12, urging international organizations to assist in evacuating the injured and supplying critical medical resources.
On January 13, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) disclosed that between 1,000 and 3,000 families have been displaced from the city of Umm Ruwaba in North Kordofan state due to persistent clashes between the SAF and the RSF, which have continued for a fifth consecutive day.
El Fasher has been a battleground between the Sudanese army and the RSF since May 10, 2023, serving as a crucial humanitarian operation hub for the Darfur region, utilized by both the UN and international aid agencies.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict between these two factions, resulting in at least 29,683 fatalities and displacing over 14 million people either within or outside the country, according to the latest estimates from international organizations.
