The key facts
- According to MSF, the Nyala hospital received the bodies of 36 deceased, 21 of whom were in civilian clothing; over 150 injured were recorded in the emergency department.
- The war between SAF and RSF has been ongoing since April 2023, displacing more than 14 million people.
- Dozens of countries, including the USA, UK, France, and Germany, have called on the conflicting parties to ensure humanitarian access and warned of deteriorating food security.
Drone strike on market in Nyala
A drone strike by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Monday hit a crowded market in Nyala, the capital of the South Darfur region. According to the international medical organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF), at least 36 people were killed. The organization reported that the Nyala hospital, supported by its teams, received the bodies of 36 deceased, 21 of whom were in civilian clothing, and medical teams recorded more than 150 injured in the emergency department. MSF described the aftermath of the strike as 'complete devastation among the people gathered there' and reported that a second strike hit a civilian area. The incident was reported by The National citing a statement from the organization.
Conflict Context
The Armed Forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting since April 2023. According to the publication, the war has led to the displacement of more than 14 million people, and both sides are accused of abuses. Earlier, The National reported on other strikes with a high number of casualties: in October 2026, the publication wrote about accusations against the army for a drone strike in the disputed border region of Abyei, where the death toll rose to 153, as well as a UN report stating that al-Burhan's forces used drones supplied from abroad in attacks on civilian areas.
International Appeal for Humanitarian Access
On the same Monday, dozens of countries, including the USA and major European powers, called on the warring parties in Sudan to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, warning of worsening hunger. In a joint statement, released by the US State Department, the signatories called for increased international funding and ensured access through front lines and borders, including by air to Darfur. 'Sudan is experiencing a worrying deterioration in food security,' the statement said, citing warnings from the UN-supported IPC classification about the risk of famine in the coming months. The signatories stated that 'the conflicting parties bear primary responsibility for alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people' and called for the protection of humanitarian workers, avoiding attacks on civilian infrastructure, and urged financial institutions to adapt programs to the food crisis. Among the signatories are Australia, the UK, France, Germany, the USA, and the European Commissioner for Equality, Readiness, and Crisis Management.
