Sarf Umra, May 05 (Darfur24)
Several civilians were killed and others injured on Tuesday after a drone strike, believed to have been carried out by the Sudanese army, hit a crowded market in Sarf Umra, North Darfur, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
A volunteer in the town told Darfur24 that the strike targeted the main market at peak activity, killing several people, including women, and wounding others who were taken to nearby medical centers.
Residents said the town has been subjected to repeated aerial bombardment in recent weeks, with markets frequently targeted, forcing many traders to suspend their activities out of fear of attacks.
Another local source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said drones now fly daily over the area, increasingly striking civilian locations.
He added that Tuesday’s attack caused multiple casualties. However, exact figures remain unclear, and were followed by a wave of arrests carried out by the Rapid Support Forces, targeting civilians in the aftermath of the strike.
Residents called on the Sudanese army to halt the bombardment of Sarf Umra, warning that the town hosts thousands of displaced people living in shelters.
Darfur24 was unable to obtain official casualty figures from local authorities or the rural hospital, and the Sudanese army has not issued any statement regarding the incident.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, with drones increasingly used in attacks on both civilian and military areas.