The Sudan Doctors Network reports that an RSF-led assault on Dilling, South Kordofan, killed at least 14 people and wounded 23, including children. Medical groups warned the violence could escalate into a 'catastrophic scenario' similar to the October attack on el-Fasher, where UN reports cite thousands killed. The conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF, which began in April 2023, has displaced millions and prompted ICC investigations into alleged war crimes.
RSF Assault on South Kordofan's Dilling Kills At Least 14; Doctors Warn Of 'Catastrophic' Escalation
Sudanese soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the military council, in the East Nile province, Sudan [File: Hussein Malla/AP Photo]
An assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied fighters on the South Kordofan capital, Dilling, has killed at least 14 people, including five children and two women, the Sudan Doctors Network reported.
The network said the attack involved heavy shelling of residential neighbourhoods and lasted several hours, leaving at least 23 people wounded, including seven children. Local military authorities said they had repelled the assault after earlier lifting an RSF siege that had cut supplies and subjected residents to repeated bombardment.
Medical and Humanitarian Concerns
The Sudan Doctors Network warned the violence risks becoming a 'catastrophic scenario' similar to the October assault on the Darfur city of el-Fasher, an attack that United Nations-commissioned experts said bore 'hallmarks of genocide.' UN Human Rights reporting said more than 6,000 people were killed in el-Fasher over three days when the RSF unleashed what it described as 'a wave of intense violence ... shocking in its scale and brutality.'
Wider Conflict Context
The war between the Sudanese army and the RSF began in mid-April 2023 and has produced one of the world's fastest-growing man-made humanitarian crises. According to UN figures, more than 12 million people have been displaced and over 33 million are in need of humanitarian aid. The UN records more than 40,000 deaths over the past three years, while aid groups caution the true toll may be significantly higher.
Both sides in the conflict have faced accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity; those allegations are under investigation by the International Criminal Court. Fighting has recently centred on Darfur and the Kordofan region, with daily reports of deadly attacks, many involving drones. The UN Human Rights Office said more than 500 civilians were killed in drone strikes as of mid-March this year.
'We face a risk of rapid escalation that could overwhelm local hospitals and humanitarian response,' the Sudan Doctors Network warned, calling for urgent protection of civilians and unfettered humanitarian access.
Humanitarian agencies continue to call for increased international attention, safe corridors for aid, and accountability measures as civilians in the region bear the brunt of escalating violence.
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