A Sudanese human rights watchdog has accused General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and allied militias of carrying out a “systematic destruction” of towns and villages, citing repeated attacks on civilian areas in the country’s conflict zones.
In a statement, the Sudanese National Observatory for Human Rights said villages have been deliberately targeted multiple times, pointing to a recent incident in Kutum locality in North Darfur earlier this week. The group said its teams are investigating the attack to establish further details.
The Emergency Lawyers group said a drone strike carried out by the SAF targeted a civilian gathering in the Al-Salama neighbourhood of Kutum, killing dozens of civilians, including women and children. The group said the army bears full responsibility for the attack.
The strike, which reportedly hit a wedding gathering, killed more than 33 civilians, according to the United Nations. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said attacks involving drones against civilians and civilian infrastructure are “unacceptable.”
Local resistance committees also accused the SAF of carrying out the drone strike.
Separately, the United Nations refugee agency said around 11.5 million people have been displaced since the conflict began, including 7 million internally displaced and 4.5 million who have fled to neighbouring countries.
A UNHCR spokesperson warned that Sudan is facing one of the largest displacement crises in the world as the war enters its fourth year, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating at an unprecedented rate.
The official stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, saying an end to hostilities is essential to protect civilians and allow aid agencies to deliver life-saving assistance.
The fighting has caused widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure and basic services, leaving millions without shelter, healthcare or livelihoods, the UN said.
While humanitarian agencies continue to operate on the ground, the scale of the crisis far exceeds available resources, with severe funding shortages hindering relief efforts.
Civilians across Sudan are enduring extreme hardship and continue to call for an end to the war, the UN added, warning that only a political settlement can halt the worsening humanitarian crisis.
