Blue Nile, Sudan — At least 41 people, including eight children, have been killed in a drone strike targeting an area sheltering displaced civilians in Sudan’s Blue Nile region near the Ethiopian border, according to the Sudanese human rights group Emergency Lawyers.

The attack struck the Abu Shandi area of Wad Al-Mahi locality on Friday, where families displaced by fighting had sought refuge.

Emergency Lawyers said dozens of women were injured in the strike and accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the attack.

The allegation has not been independently verified, and the RSF has not publicly responded.

Sudan drone attack kills children and displaced civilians

Emergency Lawyers reported that eight children were among the 41 people killed, while dozens of women sustained injuries.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed alarm over reports of the strike, saying preliminary information indicated that women and children accounted for most of the casualties.

UN officials called for those responsible to be held accountable as concerns grow over attacks affecting civilians in conflict-hit areas.

The United Nations also reported that the area had experienced repeated attacks in recent weeks, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.

RSF accused of Blue Nile drone strike

Emergency Lawyers blamed the RSF for the attack, adding to allegations of violence against civilians during Sudan’s ongoing conflict.

However, responsibility for the strike has not been independently established.

The reported attack comes amid continued fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, which has spread across several parts of the country since the war began in April 2023.

The violence has left communities exposed to repeated displacement and growing humanitarian needs.

Sudan war displaces more than 12 million people

Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between the country’s military and the RSF.

The conflict has killed at least 150,000 people, according to figures attributed to conflict monitoring organization ACLED, while UN estimates indicate that more than 12.4 million people have been displaced.

The latest reported strike in Blue Nile underscores the continuing danger facing civilians who have already fled fighting.

With thousands displaced by recent attacks in the region, humanitarian concerns remain acute as the war continues.