A drone attack on Kalogi in South Kordofan killed dozens of civilians after strikes hit a kindergarten, a hospital, and rescue attempts.
A paramilitary drone attack on the army-held town of Kalogi in Sudan’s South Kordofan state struck a kindergarten and a hospital, killing dozens of civilians, a local official told AFP on Sunday. The incident occurred on Thursday and involved three consecutive strikes.
Essam al-Din al-Sayed, head of the Kalogi administrative unit, said via a Starlink connection that the first strike hit a kindergarten, the second a hospital and the third targeted people attempting to rescue the children. He attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North faction led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.
Since April 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been embroiled in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly 12 million. Independent verification from the Kordofan region remains challenging because of disrupted communications, restricted access and continuing insecurity.
Death toll rises as UN condemns child casualties
The UN children’s agency reported that the attack killed more than 10 children aged between five and seven. The army-aligned foreign ministry placed the overall death toll at 79, including 43 children. UNICEF Representative for Sudan Sheldon Yett described the killing of children in their school as a severe violation of their rights and called on all parties to halt attacks and permit humanitarian access.
Following their late October capture of El-Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in western Sudan, the RSF has advanced eastward into the oil-rich Kordofan region, which comprises three states. According to the UN, more than 40,000 people have fled the region over the past month. Analysts state that the paramilitary offensive seeks to break the army’s final defensive arc around central Sudan and pave the way for attempts to retake major cities, including the capital, Khartoum.
End of Article
