A drone assault on the town of Kalogi, located in Sudan’s South Kordofan region, reportedly struck a kindergarten, resulting in the deaths of at least 50 individuals, including 33 children.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary faction engaged in conflict with the army amid Sudan’s civil war, was implicated in Thursday’s strike by a medical organization, the Sudan Doctors’ Network, along with the army.
The RSF has not responded immediately.
Conversely, the RSF accused the army of targeting a market in Darfur on Friday with a drone strike at the Adre border crossing with Chad.
Sudan has been torn apart by conflict since April 2023, following a power struggle that erupted between the RSF and the army, who were once partners.
The claims remain unverified by independent sources.
As per the army-aligned foreign ministry, the kindergarten was targeted twice with drone missiles.
Civilians and healthcare workers who rushed to the site were also subjected to attack, it stated.
In reaction to news of the assault in Kalogi, a spokesperson for the UN children’s agency Unicef remarked: “Killing children within their educational environment is an appalling breach of children’s rights.”
“Children must never bear the burden of conflict,” added Sheldon Yett.
He indicated that the agency called for “all sides to cease these assaults immediately and enable safe, uninterrupted access to humanitarian aid for those in dire need.”
The RSF claimed the army attacked the Adre crossing due to its use for “the provision of aid and commercial supplies.”
According to the Sudan War Monitor, a research group monitoring the conflict, the assault resulted in civilian casualties and substantial destruction at a market.
The military did not promptly respond to the allegations from Darfur.
Situated between Sudan’s capital Khartoum and Darfur, the region encompassing North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and West Kordofan has been a focal point in the civil war.
The struggle for the Kordofans, home to nearly eight million residents, has escalated as the army advances toward Darfur.
