Tragedy in Dilling: Drone Strike on Army Hospital
On a grim Sunday in the besieged southern Sudanese city of Dilling, at least nine civilians lost their lives, and 17 others, including medical personnel, were injured when a drone struck the Al-Dilling Military Hospital. This attack, reported by the Sudan Doctors Network, underscores the perilous state of healthcare facilities amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Accusations Against the Rapid Support Forces
The Sudan Doctors Network has explicitly blamed the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for these targeted strikes. Their report indicates that the artillery shelling was not confined to the hospital alone but also impacted civilian areas such as Karoul and Al-Samasim. The RSF’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation for violating international laws that safeguard medical facilities and civilian lives during conflict.
Humanitarian Concerns
In a heartfelt statement, the Sudan Doctors Network denounced the systematic targeting of healthcare institutions, emphasizing the humanitarian and health crises resulting from such assaults. They called for the global community to hold the RSF accountable for these crimes, reinforcing the notion that targeting medical facilities is a blatant disregard for human rights.
The Appeal for Protection
The network urged international organizations and human rights advocates to take immediate action in protecting both civilians and medical facilities. They stressed the urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian access, advocating for the lifting of the siege on South Kordofan State, where Dilling is located.
Recent Impact on UN Personnel
This tragic incident occurred just a day following another deadly attack—a drone strike on a United Nations logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, which resulted in the deaths of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers. These personnel were part of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), tasked with maintaining peace in the disputed Abyei region. The loss of life underscores the increasingly perilous conditions faced by both local civilians and international peacekeepers.
Responses from Global Leaders
UN Secretary-General António Guterres promptly condemned the Kadugli attack, characterizing it as unacceptable and potentially amounting to war crimes under international law. He pointed out the obligation to protect UN personnel and called for accountability, expressing condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and wishing a swift recovery to the injured. His statements highlight the urgency of the situation in Sudan and the potential international repercussions of these conflicts.
The Ongoing Conflict
The backdrop to these tragic events is a brutal war between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), which erupted in April 2023 and has since claimed tens of thousands of lives. The conflict has also displaced nearly 13 million people, according to reports from international humanitarian organizations, reflecting a deepening crisis that continues to unfold.
Call to Action
The repeated strikes on both medical facilities and UN bases illustrate a disturbing trend in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Activists and humanitarian organizations are rallying for a concerted effort to safeguard civilians and restore some semblance of normalcy in a region beset by violence. The international community’s responsibility to respond to such humanitarian crises has never been more urgent.
Through these tragedies, the resilience of the Sudanese people continues to be tested, with the hope that urgent action can stem the tide of violence and restore peace.