Drone raid on a kindergarten in Sudan, 50 dead including 33 children

In Sudan, a drone attack hit a kindergarten in the town of Kalogi, South Kordofan, killing at least 50 people, including 33 children. According to accusations by the Sudanese Medical Network and the army, those responsible for the raid, which took place on Thursday, were the Rapid Support Forces (RSPF), the paramilitary group that has been engaged in an open conflict with the regular forces for more than two years. The RSF in turn blamed the army for a drone offensive against a market in Darfur, on the border with Chad, on Friday.

The bombing of Kalogi comes at a time of a sharp deterioration in security throughout Kordofan. According to UN data, more than 41,000 people have left their homes since the beginning of November, while attacks against civilians, schools and hospitals are multiplying. The UN points out that the killing and wounding of children and the violence against health and educational facilities constitute serious violations of children's rights.

In South Kordofan, the humanitarian situation has precipitated: famine has been confirmed in Kadugli and similar conditions have been reported in Dilling. Medical services are at risk of collapse, supplies are almost exhausted and the interruption of education is leaving thousands of children without support and in severe psychological distress. And the civil war continues. After consolidating their presence in Darfur, the Rsf are now advancing into Kordofan, a region crucial for the pipelines transporting oil from South Sudan. A few days ago, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, had expressed great concern about the 'fierce fighting' taking place, fearing a repetition of the atrocities documented in other parts of the country. Since 25 October, the date on which the RSF captured the town of Bara in North Kordofan, the UN has recorded at least 269 civilians killed in air strikes, artillery shelling and summary executions.