At least 40 people in Sudan have been killed in a drone strike that targeted a funeral that was taking place outside the army-held city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan state, according to officials and activists.
The attack, which happened in al-Luweib village where mourners had gathered in a tent, has been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF has yet to comment on the incident.
Casualties reportedly increased as many victims died before reaching the hospital in el-Obeid, a strategic city linking the capital, Khartoum, to the western region of Darfur.
Violence has escalated in this oil-rich Kordofan area, with approximately 20,000 people fleeing to el-Obeid last week after the RSF captured the town of Bara, located 30km north of the city.
The attack on the village, which occurred on Monday, has intensified an already dire humanitarian situation, characterized by reports of mass killings and sexual violence attributed to RSF fighters.
The UN has warned that such actions could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF leader has claimed they are investigating these alleged violations but has denied accusations of ethnic targeting in the violence.
As the situation deteriorates, the UN’s chief has called for an immediate cessation of violence, urging both the Sudanese army and the RSF to return to negotiations and halt the ongoing humanitarian disaster that has left millions in peril.
More than 150,000 people have reportedly died since the civil war erupted between the army and RSF in April 2023, marking it as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
