At least 56 people have been killed and 158 others wounded following recent air raids and missile strikes on a vegetable market in Omdurman, Sudan. The Saturday attack, attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has drawn widespread condemnation and raised urgent concerns over the humanitarian crisis unraveling across the region.
According to the Health Ministry, the casualties from this assault reflect the terrifying and violent reality for civilians caught up in the conflict. Khalid al-Aleisir, the Sudanese minister of culture and government spokesperson, labeled the attack as yet another addition to the RSF’s grim history, stating, "This criminal act adds to the bloody record of this militia." He characterized the incident as “a blatant violation of international humanitarian law,” highlighting the significant risk faced by civilians and the responsibilities of armed groups during warfare.
Witnesses have reported hearing artillery shelling apparently coming from western Omdurman where the RSF exerts control. These bombardments were reportedly supported by drone strikes. One resident described the chaotic scenes as the artillery fired indiscriminately across multiple streets, with rockets and artillery shells falling everywhere. "The shells fell in the middle of the vegetable market; that's why there are so many victims and wounded," recounted another survivor, who experienced the horrors of the attack firsthand.
Hospital staff at Al-Nao, one of the few medical facilities still operational amid the violence, expressed their desperation as they dealt with the influx of casualties. A volunteer at the hospital stated they were overwhelmed by the arriving wounded, and stressed their need for more resources, saying they were critically short on “shrouds, blood donors, and stretchers to transport the wounded.” The hospital’s resources have been stretched thin as they strive to care for the victims of yet another brazen attack on innocent civilians.
The attack on the market occurred just one day after RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo made aggressive claims about retaking the capital, asserting, "We expelled them [from Khartoum] before, and we will expel them again." These statements coincide with the turbulent backdrop of heightened clashes between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which have escalated significantly since war broke out over the integration of the two forces back in April 2023. This conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions.
Throughout the country, the consequences of this war are mounting, with the United Nations estimating around 3.6 million people have been forced to flee Khartoum alone. The humanitarian situation is dire; at least 106,000 people are thought to be experiencing famine conditions, and millions more are facing crisis levels of hunger. The situation has become even more precarious with entire neighborhoods emptied out and controlled by armed fighters.
The latest assault on the Omdurman market has only exacerbated fears among the local population about their safety and the future of the region. Continued shelling and bombings have tarnished what remains of the city’s infrastructure, and many civilians are left without basic necessities during this brutal conflict.
Critics note the urgent need for international intervention and increased aid, as local resources dwindle and families struggle to survive against the backdrop of violence. Humanitarian organizations are calling for urgent action to address the alarming levels of displacement and starvation caused by this protracted violence.
With the conflict showing no sign of abatement, the civilians of Sudan face not only the immediate threat of violence but also long-term repercussions, including malnutrition, lack of access to medical care, and unstable living conditions. The recent attack on the Omdurman market painfully highlights the urgent humanitarian crisis spiraling within Sudan, prompting calls for accountability and increased support for those affected.