At least 120 civilians lost their lives in intense shelling reported in Omdurman, part of the greater Khartoum area, as Sudan’s conflict escalates. The Ombada Emergency Response Room, a network of volunteer rescuers, described the toll as preliminary, with medical supplies critically low and health workers struggling to treat the injured.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While the army controls most of Omdurman, RSF maintains dominance in Khartoum North and other parts of the capital. Residents often report cross-river shelling, with homes and civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.
Monday’s shelling occurred amid worsening humanitarian conditions, with recent months witnessing dozens of deaths in Omdurman from malnutrition, malaria, and diarrhoea due to limited access to healthcare.
In a related development, Port Sudan experienced a blackout on Monday after a drone strike, attributed to RSF, damaged a major hydroelectric dam in northern Sudan. This attack came after the army reclaimed Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira state, from paramilitary control.
The conflict has decimated Sudan’s infrastructure, displaced over 12 million people, and brought the country to the brink of famine, with tens of thousands losing their lives in the ongoing war.