Sudan’s South Kordofan state has experienced a tragic assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in the deaths of at least 116 individuals, including 46 children attending a preschool in the Kalogi locality. This information was confirmed by the locality’s executive director, according to Al Jazeera.
Military officials from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) stated that the RSF began their attack on the kindergarten on Thursday. Following the initial strike, the paramilitary group targeted civilians who attempted to assist the wounded amid the chaos.
The assault also included bombings of a local hospital and a government office. A communications blackout in the area has made it challenging to obtain accurate information, raising concerns that the casualty count may rise significantly. Humanitarian workers and local residents have faced difficulties reaching the injured.
Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, condemned the attack in a statement released on Friday, emphasizing that “killing children in their school is a horrific violation of children’s rights.” He called for an immediate cessation of such attacks and urged for safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid for those in dire need.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, noted that the death toll continues to escalate, as many survivors are severely injured and experiencing significant delays in receiving medical treatment due to ongoing fighting and restricted movement.
This incident is part of a broader trend of alleged atrocities by the RSF during Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which has now progressed into its third year. Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of committing serious abuses since the onset of the conflict.
Morgan indicated that the Kordofan region has become a significant battleground, especially after the fall of el-Fasher last month, the last major city in Darfur under army control. Intense clashes have erupted between the army and the RSF recently as both factions vie for strategic advantages.
Kordofan’s geographical importance is crucial for both the SAF and the RSF, as it lies between RSF-controlled Darfur to the west and government-held territories to the north and east. Securing major cities like el-Obeid would provide the RSF with direct access to Khartoum, territory that the army reclaimed earlier this year, while controlling Kordofan would enable the SAF to safeguard its bases and launch counter-offensives into Darfur.
The war in Sudan has already inflicted a devastating toll, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, over nine million displaced individuals, and around 30 million people dependent on humanitarian assistance, according to United Nations reports.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned on Thursday that South Kordofan is at severe risk of facing mass atrocities similar to those in el-Fasher after it fell to RSF forces. He described the situation as “truly shocking,” calling on the international community to take urgent action to prevent another widespread massacre.
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