Ahmad 
The “Youth Observatory for Darfur” (MACHAD) for Human Rights revealed in a new statistic that the number of civilian casualties in Sudan has risen to about 4,907 people, including dead and wounded, since the outbreak of war in April 2023.
The Observatory explained that about 1,411 people were killed, including 97 children and 16 pregnant women, while more than 3,496 civilians were subjected to various injuries, including 794 people whose limbs were amputated.
The Observatory indicated that the indiscriminate artillery shelling carried out by the Rapid Support Forces caused the destruction of many service facilities and homes in various states, leading to huge losses in civilian areas.
The Observatory expressed its regret that the Rapid Support continues to target civilian areas, calling on the international community and human rights bodies to condemn these crimes and prosecute the perpetrators, stressing the need to impose deterrent penalties on the leaders and members of the Rapid Support.
In a related context, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan announced the killing of 468 civilians during armed clashes between January and March.
The mission stated that “violent incidents” are still continuing, with 328 people injured and 70 others kidnapped, while 47 civilians were exposed to conflict-related sexual violence.
The mission reported that violence increased by 24% compared to the same period last year, with the remote state of Warrap topping the list of most affected areas.
However, the mission indicated a decline in kidnappings and sexual violence compared to the last quarter of 2023.
The United Nations envoy to South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, stressed the need for collective action by national and local authorities and community leaders to resolve conflicts peacefully, especially with the country’s first elections scheduled for December 22 approaching.
Nearly 13 years after its independence, South Sudan is still suffering from instability and ongoing violence, which delays its recovery from the effects of the civil war that took place between Riek Machar and Salva Kiir, which resulted in the deaths of about 400,000 people and the displacement of one million during the period between 2013 and 2018.
The peace agreement signed in 2018 remains not fully implemented due to the ongoing disputes between the two rivals, leaving the country vulnerable to violence and poverty despite its large oil resources.
Satellite imagery reveals extensive destruction in El Fasher, western Sudan (photos)