Dead in multiple airstrikes in Darfur, Sudan confirmed to be at least 19

In the ongoing power struggle between Sudan's military leaders, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the situation in the war-torn region of Darfur has reached a critical point.

The human rights defence NGO Emergency Lawyers has accused the Sudanese army of a drone attack on Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur. Preliminary information suggests that dozens of civilians and healthcare professionals may have been killed in the attack on Yashfeen Clinic in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.

Al-Fashir has been under siege by paramilitaries since May 2024, and the conflict has taken a devastating toll. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives, and around 13 million have been displaced. The actual number of dead in Al-Fashir may be higher due to many of the injured not reaching the healthcare facility.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, announced a series of bombing attacks in Al-Fashir, hitting several densely populated neighborhoods in the western zone of the city, near the airport. Among the injured in Al-Fashir, 22 are in critical condition.

If Al-Fashir falls into RSF hands, the paramilitaries will control all five regional capitals of Darfur. This would mark a significant escalation in the conflict, as Al-Fashir is the last major city in Darfur still under army control.

Meanwhile, the RSF has lost control of Khartoum and several other strategic regions in the center and south of Sudan. Last month, the paramilitaries announced the creation of a parallel government with Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi sworn in as prime minister today in Nyala.

The United Nations reports that around half of Sudan's population (approximately 25 million people) suffers from "acute food insecurity." The ongoing conflict and displacement have exacerbated this crisis, with millions struggling to access basic necessities.

As the situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, the international community must take action to protect civilians and promote peace. The attacks on Al-Fashir and the Yashfeen Clinic underscore the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict and a return to stability for the people of Sudan.