Beirut, Oct 23 (AP) – A Sudanese paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), launched a drone attack targeting the capital and its main airport on Thursday, shortly after the first passenger flight in two years arrived in the city, as reported by military officials and local media.

The RSF’s assault aimed to exert pressure on Sudan’s military amid an ongoing deadlocked conflict. Military officials confirmed that the Sudanese military intercepted the drones, resulting in no damage. The official, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the press, noted that neither the RSF nor the military acknowledged the attack immediately.

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan in 2023, the Sudanese military and the RSF, previously allies, have engaged in fierce fighting. The military regained control of Khartoum from the RSF in March, but it took several months to repair Khartoum International Airport, which allowed Badr airlines to resume flights on Wednesday.

The drone strike coincided with a call from the International Organisation for Migration and other UN agencies for urgent international attention to the crisis in Sudan, highlighting the immense suffering and escalating dangers faced by the population. In a joint statement, these organizations urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians—especially children—and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout the affected regions.

The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 40,000 individuals, according to the World Health Organisation, with approximately 30 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, marking it as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

Regions such as Darfur and Kordofan have been severely impacted, with intensified fighting between the army and rival paramilitary forces at the center of the violence. Reports indicate that famine conditions have emerged in various areas of Darfur and Kordofan.

El-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, has been under siege for over a year, with UN and aid organizations warning that 260,000 civilians remain trapped within the city.

Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s deputy executive director, remarked on the dire situation in Darfur and other affected areas, stating, “What I witnessed in Darfur and elsewhere this week is a stark reminder of what is at stake: Children facing hunger, disease, and the collapse of essential services.” He further emphasized that “entire communities are surviving in conditions that defy dignity.” (AP) SKS SKS