A drone strike on a clinic in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, has resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, according to a war monitoring group. The attack, which occurred around midday Saturday, targeted the Yashfeen clinic in an area currently under the control of paramilitary forces. The Emergency Lawyers group, which documents human rights abuses amid the ongoing conflict, has attributed responsibility for the strike to the Sudanese army.
Sources indicate that the death toll could rise as initial reports suggest that many civilians and medical personnel may have been caught in the attack. Among the victims, four women reportedly lost their lives outside the clinic, while several children receiving treatment were also injured. Damage was noted at a nearby hotel as a result of the drone strike.
The protracted conflict in Sudan, now in its third year, has created immense humanitarian crises, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and displacing millions. The United Nations describes the situation as the worst displacement and hunger crisis globally. Medical facilities have not been spared in the violence; upwards of 80 percent of healthcare facilities across Sudan have been forced to shut down due to ongoing hostilities.
The landscape of control in Sudan remains divided, with the army holding territories in the north, east, and west, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) dominate Darfur and parts of the south. Recently, the RSF announced the formation of a parallel government based in Nyala, with Mohamed Hassan al-Taayshi inaugurated as prime minister, further complicating the already fragile situation.
As the conflict continues, there has been no immediate response from the Sudanese army regarding the drone strike on the clinic, which underscores the continuing peril faced by civilians and medical providers in this war-torn region.
