The medical charity MSF reported that a bomb explosion near a pediatric hospital in El Fasher, western Sudan, resulted in the tragic deaths of two children and injuries to others.
The incident occurred amidst heightened clashes in the battle for control of the city, which has become a focal point in the ongoing civil war in Darfur.
El Fasher, the last major urban center in Darfur under army control, has been a battleground between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over a year.
The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
The RSF’s siege on El Fasher escalated tensions, leading to intense clashes and heavy mortar exchanges since Friday, as reported by a freelance journalist in the city.
The bomb blast near the MSF-supported Babiker Nahar Paediatric Hospital resulted in the tragic deaths of two children in the intensive care unit, along with injuries to caregivers and patients.
The injured sought refuge in another hospital, already overwhelmed with 160 wounded from previous attacks.
Responsibility for the attack remains unclear, further exacerbating the fear and uncertainty among residents.
The southern part of the city, once a safer haven for displaced people, has also come under fire, leaving residents with nowhere to seek refuge.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, expressed deep concern over the violence, stating that it endangers the lives of over 800,000 civilians.
She emphasized the urgent need for an end to the nightmare unfolding in El Fasher.
Sudan’s civil war erupted in April the previous year following a fallout between the country’s top military leaders who had orchestrated a coup together.
Despite international efforts, attempts to broker a ceasefire have been unsuccessful, prolonging the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
Source-BBC
