Sudan's El Obeid pummeled by drone strikes as aid workers describe 'terrible' situation
The besieged Sudanese city of El Obeid is increasingly hit by drone attacks from the Rapid Support Forces, killing dozens and destroying infrastructure. The UN warns of a looming humanitarian catastrophe.
Fatima, an aid volunteer whose name has been changed for her safety, says she has lost count of the drone attacks on El Obeid, a city of half a million people under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The attacks this past weekend were the most violent yet, striking schools and fuel stations and killing more than 20 people, including students. "Over the past few months, seeing 40 or 45 drones is the norm," she said.
According to the UN human rights office, at least 45 people were killed and 41 injured in 15 drone strikes in and around El Obeid between June 6 and June 28. There are growing fears of a repeat of the El Fasher massacre last year, where RSF fighters went on a rampage after capturing the city.
Amnesty International released a report on Wednesday accusing the RSF of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in its campaign to capture El Fasher. An independent UN fact-finding mission had already said the RSF's seizure of El Fasher bore the "hallmarks of genocide" against non-Arab communities.
On Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed an urgent debate in Geneva, calling the situation in El Obeid a "red alert." He said: "The signs from El Obeid are clear and unmistakable: another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan. This is not a drill."
El Obeid hosts an army infantry division and an airbase, along with about 100,000 refugees. Experts warn of an imminent ground offensive as RSF troops concentrate around the city. A report from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab found damage to electricity generation, fuel storage, and the main market, consistent with intentional bombardment of civilian infrastructure.
Nohad Eltayeb of the Acled conflict monitoring group said 27 drone strikes were recorded around El Obeid last month, the highest monthly total since the war began in April 2023. Aid worker Ahlam (name changed) said residents have become accustomed to pain, loss, and fear, with nearly every essential service hit in the past two weeks. Many consider leaving but are deterred by soaring fuel prices.
The war started in April 2023 when a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF erupted in Khartoum. Hundreds of thousands have been killed and millions displaced. Foreign powers have fueled the conflict by backing different sides.
On Monday, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and a coalition of civil organizations referred high-level officials from the UAE, Iran, Turkey, and Egypt to the International Criminal Court for allegedly aiding and abetting atrocity crimes in Darfur by supplying arms, mercenaries, equipment, financing, and logistical support.
