• At least 79 civilians, including 43 children, were killed in a drone attack in South Kordofan.
• The RSF is accused of deliberately targeting a kindergarten and a hospital.
• Urgent calls for international intervention have been made by Sudanese authorities.
• The situation in South Kordofan reflects broader patterns of violence and human rights abuses in Sudan.
• The death toll may rise due to ongoing communication blackouts in the area.

A drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Kordofan has resulted in the deaths of at least 79 civilians, including 43 children, as reported by Sudanese authorities. The attack on the city of Kalogi involved four missiles that targeted a kindergarten, a hospital, and other populated areas, being characterized as a “heinous crime” by local officials. The RSF has not publicly commented on the incident, exacerbating fears about the humanitarian crisis in the region, according to AA.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry described the strike as part of a "genocide campaign" by the RSF against civilian communities. It condemned the targeting of educational facilities and emphasized the deadly consequences of a second attack on rescuers at the scene. The statement called for the RSF to be designated as a terrorist organization, urging the international community to take decisive action, according to AA and Middle East Eye.

A doctors' group in Sudan reported that the drone strike resulted in at least 50 deaths, including 33 children. Paramedics were reportedly targeted when they responded to assist the wounded, marking this as a gross violation of international humanitarian law. The RSF has faced growing criticism for its tactics in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has displaced millions since its onset in April 2023, according to NPR and Middle East Eye.

This attack has raised alarms among international human rights organizations, with the UN Human Rights Chief warning of potential new atrocities in the Kordofan region, following reports of executions, sexual violence, and mass abductions. The deadly strike showcases a disturbing shift toward more violent engagements by paramilitary forces, further complicating the already dire humanitarian landscape in Sudan, according to NPR and Middle East Eye.