On October 26, at around 8 p.m. local time, a drone strike by the Sudanese Armed Forces struck a busy market in the west of Nyala, the capital of Sudan's South Darfur State. The strike caused complete devastation among the people gathered there, according to Médecins Sans Frontières. A second strike also hit a civilian neighborhood. The Médecins Sans Frontières supported Nyala Teaching Hospital received the bodies of 36 people, 21 of whom were wearing civilian clothing.
The hospital's medical teams reported seeing over 150 wounded patients in the emergency room. Many patients arrived at the hospital with shrapnel injuries, blood on their faces, and severe burns. People were carried to the hospital on tuk-tuks and donkey carts from the market where the drone struck. Medical staff worked around the clock treating patients, including women and children.
Dale Koninckx, MSF project coordinator in Nyala, described the grim scene at Nyala Teaching Hospital. He said medical staff were shocked by the severity of the injuries and the number of patients arriving at the hospital. Koninckx added that the question everyone is asking is, "Why are markets being targeted? The places where people need to access food, where a lot of civilians gather?"
This attack follows a similar incident in Nyala on October 16 when a drone struck Al-Mawashi market in Nyala, killing at least four people and injuring many more. These incidents are exposing civilians to direct violence and limiting people's access to food and supplies, at a time when malnutrition is a growing concern.
Both sides in the conflict are targeting civilian areas and infrastructure. In recent days, the Rapid Support Forces reportedly carried out drone strikes targeting electricity infrastructure in Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, Gedaref, Sennar, and White Nile states. The conflict in Sudan has resulted in significant humanitarian needs, with many civilians affected by the violence.
The Médecins Sans Frontières supported Nyala Teaching Hospital is working to provide medical care to those affected by the conflict. However, the organization expressed concern about the impact of the conflict on civilians and the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide assistance. The conflict has resulted in significant challenges for humanitarian organizations operating in the region.
The international community has expressed concern about the conflict in Sudan and the impact on civilians. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian needs, with many civilians affected by the violence. The situation in Sudan remains volatile, with ongoing clashes and humanitarian needs.
Key points
- The Sudanese Armed Forces drone strike on a busy market in Nyala killed dozens and injured over 150 people.
- The conflict in Sudan has resulted in significant humanitarian needs, with many civilians affected by the violence.
- Both sides in the conflict are targeting civilian areas and infrastructure.
