In El-Obeid, Sudan, paramilitary shelling killed six, including a child, amid ongoing conflict with the army. The RSF has bombarded the city for eight days, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and injuries. The broader conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, displacing millions and threatening famine.
On Friday, shelling by Sudanese paramilitary forces in El-Obeid resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a child, according to a medical professional. This attack occurred just weeks after the country’s military lifted a protracted siege on the significant southern city, which serves as the capital of North Kordofan.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have subjected El-Obeid to continuous bombardment over the past eight days, as part of a violent conflict with the national army that has persisted since April 2023. A doctor from the city’s main hospital shared details anonymously, noting that the shelling also caused injuries to eight civilians late Thursday and early Friday.
Further updates revealed that nine civilians died and 21 were injured on the preceding Sunday. The RSF’s attacks aim to regain territories lost to the army through assaults from the northern and eastern fronts, sustaining heavy bombardments on local residents.
Last month, the Sudanese military managed to terminate an almost two-year siege imposed by the RSF on El-Obeid, an essential transit hub between Khartoum and Darfur. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated divisions across Sudan, with the RSF solidifying control over Darfur and southern regions while the army maintains authority in the northern and eastern areas.
In recent weeks, the national army has made significant territorial advancements in Khartoum and central Sudan. The hostilities originated from a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. This crisis has evolved into what is now recognized as the world’s largest displacement and hunger catastrophe, having resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities and displacing over 12 million individuals, pushing the nation towards the brink of famine.
The recent shelling in El-Obeid underscores the ongoing violence stemming from the conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF, resulting in significant civilian casualties and disruption. The situation has deteriorated into a humanitarian crisis, with massive displacements and the threat of famine looming over the country. Such conflicts highlight the urgent need for international attention and intervention to alleviate suffering and restore peace in Sudan.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
