RSF Drone Strikes Kill 23 in El Obeid, Knocking Out Power for 563,000 Residents
Updated
Updated · ReliefWeb · Jun 22
RSF Drone Strikes Kill 23 in El Obeid, Knocking Out Power for 563,000 Residents
1 articles · Updated · ReliefWeb · Jun 22
Summary
23 people were killed and 19 injured in recent drone strikes in El Obeid, where a hit on the main power station triggered a citywide blackout.
The attacks, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces, have intensified over the past two weeks and are part of six months of strikes damaging hospitals, schools, markets and other civilian infrastructure in North Kordofan.
El Obeid hosts more than 563,000 residents and over 105,000 displaced people, making the blackout especially dangerous as fuel shortages spread and water pumping systems across the region’s main urban centres are disrupted.
Aid groups warned the city is a critical commercial and humanitarian gateway for Kordofan, so any further disruption could choke off relief supplies and essential goods across the wider region.
With Sudan entering the rainy season, NGOs said damage to water, sanitation and health services raises disease-outbreak risks and urged all parties to protect civilians, keep routes open and allow unhindered aid access.
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Sudan’s El-Obeid Crisis: 11 Million Displaced, Drone Strikes, and the Collapse of Civilian Life
Overview
El-Obeid, a key city in Sudan’s Kordofan region, has become a major front line in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The city has been under siege for months, with persistent fighting leading to a dire and escalating humanitarian crisis. Prolonged conflict, recent infrastructure damage, and power outages have severely impacted critical services, deepening civilian suffering. As a result, civilians face direct threats and disruptions to essential services, highlighting the severe consequences of ongoing violence and the urgent need for humanitarian support.