Scores of civilians are feared dead following a brutal attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group on the village of Wad Al-Noora in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state on Wednesday. The Wad Madani Resistance Committee reported that “up to a hundred” people were killed during the siege, with heavy artillery used in the assault.
The RSF militia launched two attacks on the village, leading to widespread carnage. Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, with over 40 armed vehicles storming the village and deploying heavy weaponry. Footage circulated on social media shows dozens of bodies wrapped in white shrouds, prepared for burial in the village square.
Unicef reported that 35 children were among the dead, and more than 20 were injured. Catherine Russell, the agency’s executive director, expressed the dire impact on children, highlighting that thousands have been killed, injured, or displaced over the past year due to ongoing violence.
The conflict between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the RSF began in April 2023 after tensions linked to a planned transition to civilian rule erupted into violence. The United Nations estimates that at least 15,000 people have been killed in the 13-month conflict, which has precipitated one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The RSF, which controls Yemen’s capital and other populous areas, has been implicated in numerous abuses against civilians, although it denies these allegations. The militia has been targeting villages in Al Jazirah, an agricultural heartland, to enforce conscription and use hunger as a weapon.
The international community has expressed outrage over the attack. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron condemned the RSF’s actions, urging an end to the assaults and warning that those responsible will be held accountable. The Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council also condemned the RSF’s actions, calling for international condemnation and intervention.
A UN representative called for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible, emphasizing that “wars have rules that need to be respected.”
The attack on Wad Al-Noora is the latest atrocity in a conflict that has displaced over 7 million people and left millions facing starvation. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that the number of internally displaced people in Sudan could surpass 10 million in the coming days, with famine and disease compounding the crisis.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that 24.8 million people urgently need assistance, with over 8.8 million having fled their homes. The situation has been described as bearing all the marks of genocide, with strong allegations that this crime has already been committed.
Despite calls for peace, both the SAF and the RSF continue to engage in intense battles. The RSF has advanced in Al Jazirah state and other regions, targeting civilian areas and attempting to control strategic locations. The Sudanese Army has vowed to retaliate, further escalating the conflict.
Expanded Coverage:
