At least 17 children, including a seven-day-old infant, were killed in 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 sheltered families displaced by ongoing conflict, also injured 21 children and claimed up to 60 lives in total, according to media reports.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “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,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director.
El Fasher has been under RSF siege for more than 500 days, with civilians enduring continuous bombardments, severe shortages of food and medical supplies, and worsening humanitarian conditions.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which erupted in April 2023, has driven Sudan into a deep humanitarian crisis. Famine conditions have been reported in several areas, and child malnutrition has reached critical levels. Health facilities continue to record preventable child deaths caused by hunger and disease, while aid convoys face looting and obstruction, further hampering relief operations.
In response to the attack, UNICEF renewed its calls for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the siege on El Fasher, safe passage for civilians, and accountability for perpetrators.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown echoed these demands, urging all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to end 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.”
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Source:Africa Publicity
