PNN – Sudan’s Doctors Network announced that a drone strike carried out by the Rapid Support Forces on a kindergarten in South Kordofan has resulted in the deaths of dozens of children and adults — an attack that subsequently targeted the relief workers present at the scene as well.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that the drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces on a kindergarten in the city of Kologi, in South Kordofan State, killed 50 people, 33 of whom were children.
According to the network, the emergency teams that arrived at the scene after the incident were also targeted in a second surprise attack.
The legal organization “Emergency Lawyers” also stated that the second attack targeted the relief workers attending to the wounded, and additionally, a third civilian site near the previous locations was struck.
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The organization condemned the attacks, held the Rapid Support Forces responsible, and described the incident as “a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”
The Sudan Doctors Network has warned that the number of casualties may rise, as access to the area is difficult and information is being gathered slowly.
This attack comes as fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has been ongoing for more than two years, with clashes intensifying recently in the oil-rich states of Kordofan.
Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, also condemned the attack in a statement, saying: “Killing children in their schools is a horrific violation of their rights. Children must not become victims of war.”
He called on all parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and allow unhindered humanitarian assistance to reach affected areas.
In another statement, the Sudan Doctors Network announced that its teams in the Al-Affad camp, east of the city of Dabba in northern Sudan, had documented 19 cases of sexual assault against displaced women from the city of El-Fasher.
According to the report, the perpetrators of these attacks were members of the Rapid Support Forces.
The network added that two of the survivors are now pregnant and are receiving special health care from local medical teams.
The Sudan Doctors Network described the incident as “organized gang rape” and condemned it in the strongest terms.
The organization stressed that assaults against displaced women are “an indication of the direct targeting of women and a blatant violation of international laws that prohibit the use of sexual violence as a tool of repression.”