Credited from: AFRICANEWS
Ongoing drone strikes in Port Sudan have raised alarms as the city endures attacks for the sixth consecutive day, primarily attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This escalation threatens crucial infrastructure, including the main international airport and humanitarian aid operations, increasing fears of mass civilian casualties, according to India Times, AA, and Africanews.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the drone strikes impacting an area long considered a refuge for civilians fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan. His spokesperson underlined the potential for increased humanitarian needs as the assaults compromise existing aid routes, stressing the need for all conflict parties to respect international humanitarian laws, as reported by Le Monde, AA, and India Times.
As strikes continue to impact the city's major facilities, including humanitarian hubs, reports indicate that civilian populations are fleeing in droves, exacerbating the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Sudan. Civilians describe chaotic conditions, with struggles to secure transport as local infrastructure suffers, according to TRT Global and India Times.
The conflict, ongoing since April 2023, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, furthering concerns that the sharp increase in drone usage signals a dangerous shift in tactics for the RSF and a deepening crisis for Sudan overall, as noted by India Times, TRT Global, and Le Monde.