Heavy shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, killed at least seven civilians and wounded 23 others on Sunday. The attack targeted a public transport bus and marked the third consecutive day of bombardment, according to medical sources and eyewitnesses.
El-Obeid, a strategically important city, was recently freed from an RSF siege by Sudan’s military forces, which have been battling the paramilitary group since April 2023. The RSF, which controls most of Darfur, has continued its offensive despite recent territorial gains by the Sudanese army in Khartoum and central Sudan.
Meanwhile, Sudan is grappling with a worsening cholera outbreak, with nearly 100 deaths recorded in two weeks in White Nile State. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that 2,700 people have contracted the disease since February 20, including 92 fatalities, among them 18 children.
The RSF’s recent attacks in White Nile State further exacerbated the crisis. On February 16, an RSF strike on the Rabak power plant triggered widespread blackouts, disrupting water supplies and worsening the cholera outbreak. As a result, many residents were forced to rely on contaminated water transported via donkey carts, increasing the spread of the disease.
To curb the outbreak, the White Nile State Health Ministry has restricted the use of donkey carts for water transport and launched a vaccination campaign. However, aid workers warn that continued attacks on critical infrastructure could have long-term humanitarian consequences.
Since the start of the Sudan conflict, the war between army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and RSF leader Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 12 million people, creating one of the world’s largest hunger and refugee crises.
Source : https://www.arabnews.com/node/2593036/middle-east