Nine people were killed, and several others were seriously injured in a drone strike on civilians in the Bani Shako area of Sudan’s Blue Nile region on Tuesday, according to Kurmuk Locality Commissioner Abdel Ati Mohamed Al-Faki.
The victims are believed to have included displaced civilians attempting to flee fighting in the area towards the regional capital, Damazin.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Al-Faki accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the strike, saying the victims were fleeing Bani Shako village, which falls administratively under Kurmuk locality, and heading north towards Damazin.
Local activists and community sources had earlier circulated reports that nine people were killed when a group of displaced civilians fleeing areas affected by military confrontations came under a drone attack.
The incident has drawn condemnation from civil society activists and residents, who called for stronger measures to protect civilians and shield them from military operations.
Ahmed Khalid, a civil society activist who monitors developments in the Blue Nile region, told Radio Tamazuj that the attack on civilians in Bani Shako constituted a crime and a violation of international humanitarian law.
“We call for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and villages unaffected by fighting, as well as an independent and transparent investigation into the incident and other alleged violations,” he said.
Khalid also urged the authorities and parties involved in the conflict to allow medical teams immediate access to the scene and ensure that those injured receive urgent treatment.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Hassan, who witnessed the attack, described the situation in the area as dire and critical, saying civilians continue to flee their homes amid intense drone activity, including while attempting to escape areas of active fighting.
“The scenes of victims and bloodshed at the site were deeply distressing,” he told this publication.
He said displaced families were facing an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation, with little or no access to shelter, food or safe drinking water.
The reported strike comes amid an escalation of military operations and widening displacement across several parts of the Blue Nile region, particularly Kurmuk, Bau and Geissan localities.
Thousands of people fleeing the fighting are facing severe humanitarian hardship, with growing concerns over their safety as they travel through conflict-affected areas.
The incident has renewed concerns about the protection of civilians in the region, where continued attacks and mounting displacement have prompted calls for all parties to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure from hostilities and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Relatedly, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that drone strikes continue to kill and injure civilians, as humanitarian needs grow across Sudan.
“In Blue Nile State, local sources report that drone strikes hit a residential area yesterday near the village of Keili, in Al Kurmuk locality, resulting in nine civilian casualties,” he said. “Also in Blue Nile, authorities say more than 3,000 families have fled Ed Damazine and surrounding areas in recent days due to insecurity. Most have sought refuge in neighboring Sennar State, placing further strain on already stretched services, and they urgently need safe water, healthcare and sanitation.”
Haq said that in North Darfur State, at least two people were reportedly killed and several others injured when a drone strike hit a market west of the town of Kabkabiya last Saturday, according to local sources.
“We reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law,” he said.
Haq also said that funding shortages continue to hinder the humanitarian response. In South Darfur, health authorities warn that some 40,000 children could miss out on routine vaccinations this year.
“With less than two months left in the year, Sudan’s nearly $2.9 billion Humanitarian Response Plan is just over half funded, at $1.45 billion,” Haq stated. “Millions of people across Sudan depend on that assistance as needs continue to grow.”
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