UNICEF has reported that an attack on a facility hosting families displaced by ongoing conflict in Sudan has killed 17 children, with an additional 21 children injured. Media reports indicate that up to 60 people were killed during Saturday’s assault, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023. The conflict has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe, leaving tens of millions of people in conditions of severe hunger.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, condemned the attack as a grave violation of children’s rights, highlighting that targeting civilians in places meant to provide safety is unconscionable. The town of El Fasher in North Darfur has been under siege by the RSF for over 500 days, with civilians facing severe restrictions on movement, food, water, and medical care, compounded by repeated bombardments.
North Darfur has been experiencing famine for months, with catastrophic levels of food insecurity and child malnutrition. Families are surviving on minimal rations, and health facilities report rising preventable child deaths due to hunger and disease. Disrupted supply routes, looting of aid convoys, and restricted humanitarian access have severely hampered relief efforts, leaving displaced populations extremely vulnerable.
In response to the attacks, UNICEF called for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of sieges, safe passage for civilians fleeing violence, and unhindered humanitarian access. The agency also emphasized the need for accountability for those responsible for attacks on civilians.
Denise Brown, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, condemned the deliberate targeting of civilians, including hospitals and shelters, urging respect for international humanitarian law. She called for thorough and impartial investigations, stressing that those responsible for attacks against civilians must be held accountable.
