Kadugli, December 15 (Darfur24)
Several towns in South Kordofan State, including Kadugli, Dilling, Al-Karkal, and Al-Samasim, were hit by drone strikes and artillery shelling on Sunday, leaving civilians dead and wounded, local sources said.
The attacks came a day after a strike on the United Nations headquarters in Kadugli killed six members of the Bangladeshi contingent of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and wounded seven others.
Sources told Darfur24 that Kadugli was struck by drones in the early hours of Sunday, which they said were believed to belong to the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N). Heavy artillery shelling also targeted the Al-Samasim and Al-Karkal areas, causing civilian casualties and extensive damage to homes and property.
Eyewitnesses said loud explosions were heard across Kadugli, sparking fear among residents.
In Dilling, sources reported that drones targeted the Military Hospital, resulting in deaths and injuries among patients and their companions. The attack caused panic inside the facility and forced medical staff to evacuate some departments amid fears of renewed bombardment.
Security conditions in Kadugli and Dilling remain tense, with residents warning that the situation could escalate further at any moment.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported a new wave of displacement from several areas in South Kordofan between December 11 and 13 due to escalating insecurity.
According to IOM, 455 people were displaced from Dilling to locations in Sheikan locality in North Kordofan, as well as to White Nile and Khartoum states. An additional 85 people fled the town of Al-Kuweik in eastern rural Kadugli to safer areas within the state and to neighboring regions.
The organization also recorded the displacement of 365 people from Kadugli town and 825 people from the city of Ghadir, warning that the situation remains volatile and could trigger further displacement if fighting continues.