Volunteer group confirms 18 civilian deaths in Khartoum bombardments

January 15, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – A volunteer group in Sudan has confirmed that at least 18 civilians were killed and 35 injured as a result of artillery and aerial bombardments that relentlessly targeted densely populated areas in Khartoum last week.

Now in its ninth month, the conflict shows no signs of abating as the two warring parties, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continue their fierce clashes, disregarding international and regional calls for a ceasefire.

A comprehensive investigation conducted by the Soba Al-Mahatta Emergency Room, located southeast of Khartoum, has shed light on the tragic consequences of these attacks. The report, detailing three separate incidents, reveals the devastating impact of artillery and aerial bombardments on the civilian population.

On January 9, an initial mortar attack struck the area, the source of which remains unconfirmed. Shortly thereafter, Sudanese army warplanes unleashed airstrikes, further compounding the devastation. Three days later, on January 12, further shelling intensified the suffering.

The RSF, a paramilitary group, has been employing mortar attacks against Sudanese army positions in Khartoum, leading to civilian casualties and displacement. While the army uses warplanes and drones to hit their positions.

The conflict, which erupted in mid-April 2023, has since spread to various states in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and raising concerns about the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire.

(ST)