A drone strike allegedly carried out by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces targeted a mosque during prayers on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 70 worshippers in North Darfur, as confirmed by aid workers and the Sudanese army.
The mosque in the city of El Fasher was completely destroyed in the attack, with the death toll expected to rise as bodies remain trapped under the debris, according to a source from the local aid organization Emergency Response Rooms who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal by the RSF.
Sudan’s army, engaged in escalating conflict with the RSF since April 2023, expressed sorrow over the loss of 70 lives in the incident. The army condemned the RSF for deliberately targeting civilians, labeling the group’s actions as unjust.
Due to security concerns, detailed information about the attack is scarce, given that many international entities have withdrawn from the area. The conflict between the two factions has evolved into a civil war, resulting in the deaths of approximately 40,000 individuals, displacement of 12 million, and pushing many to the brink of starvation, according to the World Health Organization.
The Resistance Committees in El Fasher, comprising local activists monitoring abuses, shared a video illustrating the aftermath of the strike at the mosque and reported details from witnesses regarding the incident’s location and timing.
The drone assault is part of a series of recent attacks in El Fasher amid heightened clashes between the opposing groups. Satellite images released by the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University depicted drone activity and explosion impacts in the region earlier in the week, showing damage to structures in the Abu Shouk refugee camp, housing 450,000 displaced individuals.
According to reports, RSF forces have gained control over the Abu Shouk camp and the local army headquarters in El Fasher, indicating a shift in power dynamics within the region. The RSF has been accused of targeting unarmed civilians, including women and the elderly, as well as conducting kidnappings, as highlighted by various sources.
The UN’s Human Rights Office documented over 3,300 civilian deaths in Sudan, primarily in Darfur, during the first half of the year, a significant increase compared to the previous year. The situation in El Fasher continues to deteriorate, leading to severe shortages of essential resources, as mentioned by the UN representative for Sudan during a briefing in Geneva.
Residents in El Fasher are facing a dire healthcare situation, with limited access to medical facilities and services due to the ongoing conflict. The only operational hospital in the city, El Fasher South Hospital, remains operational despite challenges in transportation and safety for both patients and medical staff.
The unfolding crisis in El Fasher underscores the urgent need for humanitarian intervention to protect civilians and provide essential services in the conflict-affected region.
