Sudan military drone attack on Nyala market leaves 36 dead, MSF reports

At least 36 people were killed after a drone strike launched by the Sudanese military struck a crowded marketplace in Nyala, the regional capital of South Darfur, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

The humanitarian group, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), reported that medical staff at Nyala Teaching Hospital, a facility supported by the organization, received dozens of bodies following the bombardment. Among the deceased brought to the morgue, at least 21 individuals were dressed in civilian attire. Emergency room personnel treated more than 150 wounded patients who arrived in the aftermath of the blast.

MSF said the strike resulted in catastrophic damage among the crowds gathered at the market. A subsequent aerial attack also hit a nearby residential neighborhood, causing further alarm in the community.

Sudan has been engulfed in widespread armed conflict since April 2023, when clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The ongoing war has displaced upward of 14 million people from their homes, sparking severe humanitarian devastation. Both warring factions have faced repeated allegations of committing abuses and targeting populated areas.

The deadly incident coincided with mounting diplomatic pressure on the combatants to ease humanitarian constraints. On the same day, a coalition of nations, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Australia, issued a joint plea demanding that both sides lift hurdles blocking relief supplies.

In a statement publicized by the US State Department, the international signatories warned of catastrophic hunger spreading throughout the country. Pointing to assessments from the United Nations-supported Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, which alerted the international community to the imminent danger of widespread famine, the nations emphasized that the fighting factions hold primary responsibility for easing the population's plight.

The joint declaration called on the belligerents to allow relief shipments across front lines and national borders, including through air transport into the Darfur region. It also urged the military and the paramilitary forces to safeguard aid personnel, preserve critical civilian infrastructure, and permit humanitarian organizations to operate unhindered across all regions of Sudan. Furthermore, global financial bodies were asked to recalibrate their assistance efforts to help address the worsening food emergency.