Kauda, July 19 (Darfur24)
Heavy fighting and artillery shelling struck the village of Al-Qardoud in the Kauda area of South Kordofan State on Saturday, killing and injuring civilians and forcing hundreds to flee, according to local sources.
The renewed violence follows months of tension in Kauda, where disputes over tribal border demarcation since March have escalated into clashes between the SPLM-North and members of the Otoro tribe, whom the armed movement describes as “rebels.”
Sources told Darfur24 that the attack on Al-Qardoud began at about 5:00 a.m., with heavy artillery hitting residential neighborhoods and areas sheltering displaced people. They alleged that the assault was carried out by SPLM-North forces.
The shelling reportedly killed and wounded civilians, burned homes, and led to the looting of cattle, forcing hundreds of residents to flee into nearby forests and valleys without necessities. The sources described Saturday’s assault as the most intense since the conflict erupted in Kauda.
They also said a previous attack on the village of Al-Hamam on July 15 left people dead and injured and displaced dozens of residents to neighboring villages, including Al-Qardoud, which came under attack on Saturday.
According to the sources, humanitarian conditions remain dire for displaced families, particularly those sheltering in forests and valleys. Dozens of people displaced from Al-Hamam have reportedly reached the nearby areas of Kembra and Karandi.
Sources say tensions in the Kauda and Heiban areas since late May have left dozens of civilians dead, displaced many others, and deepened the humanitarian crisis.