At Least 11 Killed in Drone Strike on Sudan Displacement Camp

At least 11 people were killed after a drone strike hit a displacement camp in Sudan’s River Nile state, the regional governor confirmed on Friday. The attack also struck the nearby Atbara power station, damaging it for the fourth time.

Authorities accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the strike. The RSF, which denies using drones in attacks, has previously targeted power stations in army-controlled areas but had not caused such a high death toll until now.

Teacher Mashair Hemeidan, speaking through tears, described the devastation: “This morning we heard a large explosion and found two families completely burned inside their tents while they slept. We fled Khartoum to escape the war, but it has followed us here. We have nowhere left to go.”

The strike injured at least 23 others, including nine children, according to a medical official. Residents said multiple missiles hit the camp, setting several tents on fire. Fadwa Adlan, a mother living in the camp, shared her loss: “My nine-year-old son Ahmed was killed today, and now my nine-year-old Fadi and seven-year-old Omnia are in the hospital.”

The displacement camp, sheltering about 179 families who had fled fighting in Khartoum, was located around 3km from the Atbara power station. Conditions at the site had been harsh, with minimal humanitarian assistance.

Following the attack, authorities dismantled the camp, and residents were seen boarding buses to an undisclosed location.

The escalation in drone strikes comes as the Sudanese army tries to push the RSF out of central regions. Meanwhile, heavy ground fighting continues in Darfur and parts of Omdurman, causing massive displacement.

International efforts to broker peace have so far failed, and humanitarian agencies warn of worsening conditions amid ongoing violence.