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At least 14 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured following an attack on the Sudanese town of Umm Arda, according to local rights group Emergency Lawyers.
The group attributed the attack to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which earlier claimed to have taken control of the town in the conflict-hit Kordofan region.
“The Rapid Support Forces attacked the Umm Arda area on Friday, southwest of El Obeid,” Emergency Lawyers said.
The organisation said the assault resulted in the deaths of more than 14 civilians and left dozens wounded, while also triggering a new wave of displacement.
Earlier on Friday, the RSF said it had captured Umm Arda, describing the development as a “significant shift in field operations”.
However, a source within the Sudanese army told AFP that government forces had repelled two RSF attacks in the Umm Arda and Jabal al-Hashaba areas.
The source claimed that the army inflicted losses on RSF fighters during the clashes.
AFP said it could not independently verify the claims or establish the exact outcome of the fighting because of limited access to the area and disruptions to communication networks.
Emergency Lawyers, which has documented alleged atrocities committed by both sides during the war, warned that the latest violence was worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
The group said communities in the affected areas were already suffering from siege conditions and shortages of basic services, while humanitarian aid had been suspended in several locations.
Thousands of Children Displaced
The humanitarian situation has also deteriorated around El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan.
Save the Children said approximately 40,000 children have fled to El Obeid to escape the fighting.
The organisation reported a significant rise in child malnutrition and severe food shortages in two camps where it supports displaced people.
A water shortage has further compounded the crisis, with some families reportedly spending almost half the day searching for water.
The latest fighting comes as Sudan’s war enters its fourth year, with the conflict having killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.
The Sudanese army maintains control over much of the country’s central and eastern regions, while the RSF controls large parts of Darfur in the west and areas of the south.
The continuing clashes in Kordofan have intensified concerns over the expansion of the conflict and its devastating impact on civilians already facing displacement, hunger and limited access to essential services.
