At least 13 children were killed, and four others injured, following airstrikes by General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) in Al Kuma, North Darfur, on October 4, according to a statement from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The victims, aged between 6 and 17, were caught in SAF bombardment that reduced homes, health centers, water points, and marketplaces to rubble.
UNICEF condemned the attacks, highlighting the severe impact of the ongoing conflict on the country’s most vulnerable population.
“These attacks on children are unacceptable,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s Representative to Sudan. “Children have no role in wars or civil conflicts, yet they are the ones suffering the most.”
UNICEF also reported further civilian casualties from airstrikes in Melit, another town in North Darfur, earlier today.
Since the onset of the conflict, over 150 schools and hospitals have been targeted across Sudan, marking last year as the deadliest for children in more than a decade, according to UNICEF data.
“As violence continues unchecked, we fear this horrendous pattern will persist,” Yett warned. “Thousands of children and families remain trapped in areas engulfed by violence and insecurity, with little to no protection. This ongoing disregard for children’s safety and rights must come to an end.”
UNICEF urged all parties involved in the conflict to honor their obligations under international humanitarian law, ensuring the protection of children and civilians.
