At least 120 civilians lost their lives in artillery shelling in western Omdurman on Tuesday amid escalating clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Rescuers reported severe shortages of medical supplies as health workers struggled to treat numerous wounded individuals with varying degrees of injuries in the capital Khartoum’s twin city, located across the Nile River.
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 2023, with forces led by rival generals fighting for control. Most of Omdurman is under army control, while the RSF holds Khartoum North and parts of the capital. Residents across Greater Khartoum frequently report shelling across the Nile, with bombs and shrapnel striking homes and civilians. Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have faced accusations of targeting civilians, including health workers, and indiscriminately shelling residential areas.
Recent weeks have seen intensified clashes, including a paramilitary drone attack on a hydroelectric dam in northern Sudan, which resulted in a power outage in Port Sudan, where the army-aligned government is based.
The ongoing conflict has claimed up to 150,000 lives, displaced more than 12 million people, and pushed much of the population toward famine.