In Sudan’s South Kordofan state, a paramilitary drone assault on the army-controlled town of Kalogi targeted a kindergarten and a hospital, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians, a local official informed AFP on Sunday.
The attack, occurring on Thursday, comprised three strikes: first on a kindergarten, then a hospital, and finally as individuals attempted to rescue the children, according to Essam al-Din al-Sayed, head of the Kalogi administrative unit, speaking to AFP through a Starlink connection.
The UN children’s agency reported that over 10 children, aged five to seven, were killed in the attack. Meanwhile, the army-aligned foreign ministry stated the total death toll was 79, including 43 children.
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Essam blamed the attack on 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 army and the paramilitary RSF have been engaged in a conflict that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced nearly 12 million people.
Independent verification of reports from the Kordofan region is challenging due to unreliable communications, limited access, and ongoing insecurity.
UNICEF Representative for Sudan, Sheldon Yett, condemned the killing of children in their schools as a grave violation of children’s rights, urging all parties to cease attacks and allow humanitarian aid.
Following their late-October capture of El-Fasher, the army’s last western Sudan stronghold, the RSF has advanced eastward into the resource-rich Kordofan region, divided into three states.
According to the UN, over 40,000 people have fled the region in the past month.
Analysts suggest the paramilitary offensive aims to dismantle the army’s last defensive line around central Sudan and pave the way for efforts to reclaim major cities, including the capital, Khartoum.
