Militia Drone Targets Vehicles Carrying Patients in North Kordofan

The Emergency Lawyers group stated on Monday that three civilians were killed and another was injured in a drone strike targeting two civilian vehicles in the Edeid Raha area, located in the Sodari locality of North Kordofan State, while the passengers were en route to receive medical treatment. Sources confirmed that the drone belonged to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, which has previously bombarded civilian vehicles and facilities across Kordofan, Khartoum, and Darfur.

In a statement issued on Monday, the group noted that the attack occurred on Sunday evening at 7:30 PM, targeting two civilian cars carrying individuals traveling from Om Badr area toward the Northern State to seek medical care.

The group explained that its preliminary investigations confirmed the strictly civilian nature of the two targeted vehicles, noting that they carried no military equipment or markings.

Critique was directed at the targeting of civilian transport in this manner, with the group adding that it indicates a potential intent to strike civilian targets despite their clearly non-military nature; however, no independent body has yet provided verification for this conclusion.

The statement emphasized that the attack is part of a recent series of drone strikes hitting villages, markets, and civilian vehicles in North Kordofan. The group reported that over the past seven days, it has documented the deaths of 33 civilians and the injury of dozens more due to these strikes.

The group highlighted that the ongoing targeting of civilians during transit, combined with deteriorating healthcare services and damage to medical facilities, further compounds the humanitarian crisis. Patients and the wounded are forced to travel long distances to reach treatment centers amidst escalating security risks.

It concluded that repeated attacks on civilians, their means of transport, markets, and daily livelihood activities reflect the magnitude of the humanitarian challenges facing the population in conflict zones.