Drone Strike Hits Kindergarten in South Kordofan — 50 Dead, Including 33 Children, Doctors Say

Drone Strike Hits Kindergarten in South Kordofan

Doctors and rights groups report that a drone strike by Sudanese paramilitary forces struck a kindergarten in the town of Kalogi, South Kordofan, killing 50 people, including 33 children. The Sudan Doctors’ Network said first responders at the scene were then hit in a separate, 'second unexpected attack' while treating survivors.

Emergency Lawyers, an organization monitoring violence against civilians, said a 'third civilian site near the previous two' was also targeted. Both groups placed responsibility on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF); the RSF has accused the Sudanese military of carrying out other strikes in the area. Independent verification remains limited due to restricted access and communications blackouts.

Communication outages across the region have hindered casualty reporting, and local sources warn the death toll could rise as more information emerges.

"Killing children in their school is a horrific violation of children’s rights," UNICEF Representative for Sudan Sheldon Yett said, calling on all parties to halt attacks and allow safe humanitarian access.

The incident comes amid more than two years of fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese military, which has recently concentrated in the oil-rich Kordofan states after the RSF seized el-Fasher. Humanitarian groups report hundreds of civilian deaths across Kordofan in recent weeks. Separately, Sudanese military air strikes reportedly killed at least 48 people, mostly civilians, in Kauda.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned that Kordofan faces the risk of atrocities similar to those documented in el-Fasher. The World Health Organization estimates the broader conflict, which began in 2023, has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced some 12 million, though aid agencies say the true toll may be considerably higher.

Note: This report reflects statements from the Sudan Doctors’ Network, Emergency Lawyers, UNICEF and other agencies. Restricted communications and limited independent access mean some details remain unverified.