At least 17 children, including a seven-day-old infant, were among the victims of a deadly assault on a displacement centre in El Fasher, North Darfur, on Saturday as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified attacks in the besieged region.
The strike on the Dar al-Arqam facility, which housed families displaced by ongoing conflict, also left 21 children injured and claimed up to 60 lives, according to media reports.
The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, on Monday strongly condemned the attack, calling it “an outrage” and a grave violation of children’s rights.
““Killing and injuring children are grave violations of their rights and attacks on civilians in places meant to offer safety and refuge are unconscionable,” UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said.
El Fasher has been under RSF siege for more than 500 days, with civilians facing repeated bombardment, restricted access to food and medical care, and deteriorating living conditions.
The conflict between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces, which erupted in April 2023, has plunged the region into a humanitarian catastrophe, with famine conditions reported in several areas and child malnutrition reaching critical levels.
Health facilities have documented rising preventable child deaths linked to hunger and disease while aid convoys face looting and obstruction, making sustained relief efforts nearly impossible.
In response to the latest attack, UNICEF renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the siege, safe passage for civilians and accountability for those responsible.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown echoed the same sentiment, urging respect for international humanitarian law and an end to the deliberate targeting of hospitals, shelters, and civilian infrastructure.
“These incidents demand thorough, impartial investigations,” Brown said in a statement. “Those responsible must be held accountable.”
JN/APA