A devastating drone attack on a marketplace in western Sudan has claimed 11 lives and left more than 20 people wounded, according to the French humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders.
The deadly strike occurred March 12 at the Adikong market located near Sudan’s border with Chad. The attack ignited fuel storage areas, causing victims to suffer severe burns. Medical staff confirmed that 11 individuals died from their injuries in the blaze.
Doctors Without Borders reported treating 23 injured people at a hospital the organization supports in Adre, Chad. Among those hurt were seven children who required medical care following the attack.
This marks the second fatal drone assault in the area within less than 30 days, highlighting the escalating violence in the region. UN High Commissioner Volker Turk revealed Thursday that his office has documented reports of more than 200 civilian fatalities from drone attacks across Sudan since March 4.
The strikes have caused widespread destruction beyond the loss of life. “Many homes, schools, markets and health facilities were damaged or destroyed in the attacks,” Turk stated.
These aerial weapons have emerged as critical tools in the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a war that started in April 2023. The deployment of drones has enabled the RSF to counter the army’s initial advantage in air power during the early stages of the fighting.
