Sudan drone strikes death toll rises to 59 as attacks hit shelter, market

2026-02-19 - 09:32

The death toll from drone strikes targeting a displacement shelter and a marketplace in Sudan's Kordofan region has risen to 59, Sudanese media reported Thursday. The attacks underscore escalating violence against civilian infrastructure amid the country's devastating 23-month conflict. Shelter and Market Targeted On Monday, an airstrike hit a veterinary unit building in Al-Sunut, West Kordofan, where displaced civilians had taken shelter. Local daily Al-Rakoba, citing medical sources, reported at least 28 killed—including women and children—with several injured remaining in critical condition. The same day, another drone strike struck a market in Al-Safiya, northeast of Sudari locality in North Kordofan, killing 31 people and wounding dozens. The perpetrators remain unclear. Legal Condemnation In a statement, the non-governmental Emergency Lawyers group denounced attacks on markets and civilian facilities as "a violation of international humanitarian law," calling on Sudan's warring parties to protect civilians and de-escalate fighting. The group's condemnation highlights growing international concern over systematic targeting of civilian sites. Conflict Context Sudan has been engulfed in bloody conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced approximately 13 million people, and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, according to UN reports. The Kordofan region has seen intensified fighting since last October.