Residents of Khartoum were startled by artillery and rocket fire on Sunday, following an earlier army airstrike in the city’s southern region that resulted in the loss of at least 20 civilians, including two children, as reported by Sudanese activists.
“The death toll from the aerial bombardment” in southern Khartoum” has risen to 20 civilian fatalities,” as stated in an announcement by the neighborhood’s resistance committee.
These committees, which previously organized pro-democracy protests, now extend aid to families caught in the conflict between the opposing factions.
In a prior statement, they reported that the casualties encompassed two children and cautioned that additional fatalities remained unaccounted for because “their bodies could not be moved to the hospital because they were severely burned or torn to pieces in the bombing.”
Since the conflict initiated between the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces on April 15, it is estimated that approximately 5,000 individuals have lost their lives, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.
The Sudanese Armed Forces maintain control over the airspace, conducting frequent air raids, while RSF fighters exert their dominance over the streets of the capital.
Western nations have leveled accusations against paramilitary groups and allied militias of engaging in ethnically motivated killings in the western Darfur region. The International Criminal Court has initiated a fresh investigation into alleged war crimes in this regard.
The army has also faced allegations of misconduct, notably an airstrike on July 8 that resulted in the deaths of approximately two dozen civilians.
As per the United Nations, over half of Sudan’s population of 48 million now necessitate humanitarian assistance and protection, with six million individuals teetering on the brink of famine.
Despite encountering insecurity, instances of looting, and bureaucratic hurdles, the United Nations reports that it has successfully delivered aid to millions of individuals in need.
According to the UN, the conflict has led to the internal displacement of approximately 3.8 million people, and an additional one million have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
Among those who have been displaced are nearly 2.8 million individuals from Khartoum, as reported by the International Organization for Migration. This figure surpasses half of the capital’s pre-war population, which stood at approximately five million.
Those who remain are taking shelter amidst the crossfire, having to ration water and electricity.
In Khartoum, the resistance committees have emerged as vital sources of relief, undertaking the arduous task of rescuing survivors from the debris of bombed structures, displaying immense courage amid street gunfire to distribute medicine, and meticulously documenting atrocities.
Nearly five months in, the violence shows no signs of abating.
On Sunday, witnesses once more observed the army launching artillery and rocket strikes, targeting RSF positions in northern Khartoum.