KEY POINT
- Sudan bombardments civilian casualties rise to 127 in two days.
- Airstrikes and artillery have left civilians trapped in conflict zones.
- Global organizations call for intervention amid rising Sudan death toll.
The Sudan conflict continues to escalate, with at least 127 people killed over the course of two days due to heavy bombardments involving airstrikes and artillery fire. The latest wave of violence has seen civilians caught in the crossfire, with residential areas hit and critical infrastructure destroyed.
According to Al Jazeera, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are engaged in intense fighting for control of key areas in Khartoum and surrounding regions. Witnesses describe the bombardments as some of the deadliest since the conflict began in April 2023. Residential buildings, healthcare facilities, and markets have been reduced to rubble, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm over the growing death toll, emphasizing that the majority of the victims are unarmed civilians, including women and children. Rescue efforts have been hampered as aid workers struggle to access affected areas due to ongoing shelling and blocked transport routes.
Civilians bear the brunt as Sudan conflict escalates
The Sudan conflict has entered a dangerous new phase, with reports of airstrikes on residential areas and heavy artillery shelling. Humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), have raised concerns about the growing civilian death toll.
Local residents have reported being trapped in their homes, unable to escape due to relentless airstrikes and street-level fighting. Schools, hospitals, and marketplaces have been destroyed, leaving survivors with no access to essential services. The collapse of public services has forced communities to seek shelter in makeshift camps, further worsening the humanitarian crisis.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that Sudan’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse as hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties. Health workers are unable to operate in conflict zones, and many healthcare facilities have been shelled, making it impossible to provide life-saving treatment.
The absence of humanitarian corridors has left aid workers stranded, unable to deliver food, water, or medical supplies to those most in need. Human rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), have accused both sides of violating international humanitarian law by indiscriminately targeting civilian areas.
Global calls for intervention as Sudan violence intensifies
The rising death toll in Sudan has prompted international condemnation and calls for immediate intervention. The African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) have urged the Sudanese warring factions to agree to a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to reach affected areas. However, previous ceasefire agreements have repeatedly failed, with both sides blaming each other for violations.
International human rights groups have called on global powers to increase diplomatic pressure on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to end hostilities. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have highlighted the urgent need for accountability, calling for investigations into alleged war crimes, particularly the deliberate targeting of civilians and the destruction of humanitarian infrastructure.
The humanitarian crisis has also prompted neighboring countries to prepare for a new wave of refugees as displaced Sudanese flee the violence. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called for increased international support to assist those forced to cross into neighboring Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.
While peace talks have been attempted, efforts have yet to yield a lasting ceasefire. Observers believe that the international community must take a stronger stance to prevent further civilian casualties and avert a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.
