Drone attack on disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan, at least 153 dead

In a drone attack on Abyei, a border area disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, a fuel depot was hit, resulting in at least 153 deaths, a local official stated.

The local authorities accused the Sudanese army of carrying out the attack yesterday, which caused a fire that is still ongoing. The death toll is expected to continue to rise.

A senior Sudanese army official, speaking anonymously, said that the army carried out a drone attack yesterday targeting fuel tankers arriving from South Sudan, which he claimed were intended for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The official said that the victims were RSF members and individuals involved in fuel smuggling.

“We do not target civilians,” he stated.

AP was unable to independently verify his claim about the targets of the attack or the identities of the deceased.

The official stated that the attack occurred outside the demilitarized zone along the border with South Sudan.

In a statement released today, the United Nations Secretary-General condemned the drone attacks, noting that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed and many others injured. The statement did not specify who carried out the attacks.

The UN stated that many people are still listed as missing and that the death toll is expected to rise as the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) continues to verify casualty data.

The peacekeeping mission has deployed medical personnel, firefighting equipment, and rapid response units to provide emergency medical assistance, help evacuate the injured, and prevent the spread of the fire, according to the statement.

Doctors Without Borders stated that more than 20 injured people were transferred to Ameth Bek hospital, where their teams are working together with staff from the South Sudan Ministry of Health.