Escalating aerial attacks in Sudan are killing children, damaging schools and striking United Nations facilities, placing civilians and humanitarian workers at growing risk, the UN warned on Wednesday.
Relentless violence, famine and disease are fuelling a rising death toll among children in Sudan, while attacks on healthcare and a lack of aid access hamper efforts to help them, UN aid agencies warned on Tuesday.
Two children werereportedly killedand 13 others injured in a drone strike on a mosque in Al-Rahad, North Kordofan, where all the victims were students at the adjoining school. The attack came just hours after a primary school in Dilling, South Kordofan, was hit, with further injuries reported.
WFPwarehouse hit
The warehouse of the UNWorld FoodProgramme(WFP)inthe South Kordofan capital,Kadugli,alsowas struck by suspected rockets, significantly damagingbuildingsand mobile storageunits.
Recent days have also seen drone strikes reported in other parts of South Kordofan, North Kordofan and West Kordofan states, UN Spokesperson Stphane Dujarrictold journalistsin New York.
Strikes have occurredclose to key supply routes linking the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan to Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, and this is endangering civilians, including humanitarian workers.
Not a target
The fact that we have to reiterate almost every day that civilians and civilian infrastructure, places of worship, schools and hospitals cannot and should not be targeted is a tragedy into itself, he said.
Yet, we have to remind the parties of this almost every day and that they need to respect international humanitarian law.
Meanwhile, the UN and partners continue their efforts to provide humanitarianassistancetothe Sudanese people.
The war between the national army and former allies-turned-rivals the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) whicherupted inApril 2023 hassparkedthe worlds worst humanitarian crisis, with some 30 million people in need ofassistance.
Aid convoy breakthrough
Mr. Dujarric said amulti-agency UN convoy made up of 41 trucks carryingnearly 800metrictonnesof food and other essential suppliesdepartedEl Obeid for Kadugli on Tuesday, marking a significant breakthrough along a previously closed route.
In South Kordofan, humanitarianshave distributednearly 600metrictonnesof food tonearly70,000people, but thecontinued arrival of families fleeing their homes is depleting what limited stocks are available.
More than 115,000 people have been displaced across the Kordofan region since late October, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Diplomatic concern
TheUNandfourotherorganizations working topromote political dialoguein Sudanvoiced grave concern at the continued escalation of the conflictin a statement issued on Wednesday.
The Quintet whichcomprisesthe African Union (AU), East African bloc IGAD, the League of Arab States (LAS),the European Union (EU)and the UNexpressedparticularalarmover the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile state.
The statement highlighted the urgent need for action, citing:
Deadly drone strikes and tightening sieges around population centres
Attacks on hospitals,schoolsand humanitarian assets
Widespread displacement and severe constraints on humanitarian access
Direct attacks on humanitarian aid convoys
Protect civilians, allow aid access
TheQuintetrecalled thehorrors that occurredin El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, andthe repeated warnings issued ahead of those atrocities that went unheeded with devastating consequences for civilians.
The city was under siege by the RSF for more than a year during whichcrimes such asrapes, executions, mass killings,attacks on displacementwere committed.
The Quintet insists that civilians must no longer bear the cost of ongoing hostilities, the statement said.
Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, international humanitarian law must be respected, and safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all areas in need must be ensured.
Ramadan plea
Thepartnersalsoemphasisedthe need for coordinated international efforts to de-escalate the conflict and halt the flow of weapons and fighters sustainingthe violence.
Ahead ofIslamsholy month of Ramadan,theyurgedall concernedtoseize the opportunity presented by ongoing efforts to broker a humanitarian truceand to immediately deescalate hostilities, to prevent further loss of life and enable life-saving assistance.
