Daijiworld Media Network - Sanaa
Sanaa, Oct 21: The United Nations has strongly condemned relentless drone strikes targeting civilians and critical infrastructure across Sudan, warning that the attacks are worsening the suffering of communities already battered by more than three years of conflict.
“We also strongly condemn the reported killing of dozens of civilians in a drone strike on a market in the locality of Al Dibab, West Kordofan State, on Sunday,” UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday (local time).
“This attack is part of a deeply concerning pattern. We remain alarmed by the relentless drone strikes across the country, as well as the damage they are causing to critical infrastructure. These attacks are taking a devastating toll on communities already struggling with the consequences of more than three years of conflict,” he said.
In Khartoum, three children aged between two and six, along with their father, were reportedly killed on Monday when a drone struck a residential area, Xinhua news agency reported.
In South Darfur State, a drone strike reportedly hit a residential house in the state capital, Nyala, on Monday, causing civilian casualties and damaging neighbouring homes.
On Tuesday, drones reportedly damaged the main power station in the town of Tendalti in White Nile State, Dujarric said.
“We reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. All parties must take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects during military operations,” the spokesperson said.
Dujarric also condemned a series of drone strikes across the southern border into the Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan. The attacks reportedly killed at least 28 civilians at Amiet Market and Todach on Monday, while many others were injured or remained unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy, Pekka Haavisto, is in Geneva to attend the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan.
The meeting aims to build a shared understanding of recent developments and coordinate efforts to find a solution to the civil war, which has continued for more than three years.
Neither the Sudanese government nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) would be represented at the Geneva meeting, Dujarric said, explaining that the platform and mechanism were established to enable mediators to coordinate their efforts.