Sudanese army airstrikes hit several civilian areas in the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, on Monday night.
Sources told Radio Dabanga from the capital of South Darfur state that the airstrikes by the Sudanese army have become a source of concern for residents of the city, who had felt a sense of stability in recent weeks.
Direct fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in Nyala ceased when the latter took control of the city in late October. However, on Thursday, the Sudanese army resumed airstrikes on the city, killing 10 civilians and wounding 37, according to a statement from the Emergency Lawyers Group.
One resident told Radio Dabanga that she and her neighbors are now living in fear of the repeated airstrikes. She called on the army commander to show more consideration for the difficult conditions faced by the city’s residents, who have been caught up in the war for months. “The systematic targeting of Nyala by the Sudanese army is a serious matter,” she said.
The Emergency Lawyers Group said that its previous and ongoing monitoring of airstrikes by the Sudanese army has shown that the military is targeting civilian areas without distinguishing between military and civilian targets. This explains the high number of civilian casualties.
In a statement obtained by Radio Dabanga, the group condemned the behavior of the Sudanese army and held it responsible for the deaths of civilians caused by the indiscriminate shelling.
The statement said that civilians in Nyala are living in a humanitarian crisis, with the disruption of water, electricity, and communication services, as well as the scarcity and high cost of food. In addition, there is a state of lawlessness with the spread of looting and theft in the neighborhoods of “El-Gir, El-Nahda, and El-Salaam.”
The statement explained that the Sudanese army’s approach is in violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, and that it constitutes crimes that do not expire.
The Emergency Lawyers Group renewed its call for the two sides to the conflict to put an end to the war, which has devastated the region and displaced thousands of people. The group called on both sides to show responsibility towards their people and to reach an agreement on a peace that will end the suffering.
