Detailed Report on the Aerial Bombing of Civilian Areas in Koma Locality, North Darfur
Detailed Report
The Darfur Victims Support Organization condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the aerial bombardment conducted by the Sudanese Armed Forces on the weekly market in Koma, North Darfur, on Friday, 4 October 2024. This brutal attack took place in an area that has become a refuge for civilians fleeing the escalating conflict in El Fasher, a city ravaged by clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces, and various armed groups. Koma is now home to one of the largest internally displaced person (IDP) camps in the region, sheltering approximately 350,000 displaced individuals, most of whom are women, children, and the elderly. This report seeks to draw the attention of international and regional mechanisms to the urgent need for immediate intervention to protect innocent civilians, who continue to be targeted by aerial bombardment despite their displacement.
Incident Overview:
On Friday, 4 October 2024, at approximately 10:30 AM, the Sudanese military launched an aerial assault on Koma’s weekly market, where civilians from nearby villages had gathered. Six explosive barrels were dropped on the market, leading to the deaths of 46 civilians. Many more sustained serious injuries, while several victims remain unidentified. The market, which serves as a vital lifeline for displaced civilians trying to rebuild their lives, was completely destroyed, as were numerous shelters and structures that housed these vulnerable populations.
The following are the names of the victims confirmed so far:
1. Dardiri Abdel Wahid – 45 years old
2. Awad Abdullah Haririn – 18 years old
3. Adam Abdullah – 47 years old
4. Musab Adam Abdullah – 19 years old
5. Murtada Adam Musa – 19 years old
6. Mohammed Al-Fateh Issa – 17 years old
7. Maqboola Mohammed Ismail – 48 years old
8. Moataz Hamed Jamaa – 11 years old
9. Imad Hamed Jamaa – 15 years old
10. Mohyeddin Abdel Rahman Hamed Habay – 21 years old
11. Al-Fateh Othman Ali Ibrahim – 20 years old, displaced
12. Mohammed Bahruddin Abdelrahman Hussein – 25 years old, displaced
13. Yasri Mohammed Adam Mustafa – 24 years old, displaced
14. Hawa Suleiman Al-Taher – 45 years old, displaced
15. Amina Abdel Rahman Adam – 23 years old
16. Mohammed Al-Sadiq Adam Abdullah – 24 years old, displaced
17. Saleh Rabah Mohammed Ibrahim – 45 years old, displaced
18. Ahmed Rabah Mohammed Ibrahim – 37 years old, displaced
19. Unknown – Name not identified
20. Dinar Adam Al-Nour – 34 years old, displaced
21. Mahmoud Adam Al-Khair – 12 years old
22. Mohammed Al-Sadiq Adam Abdullah – 24 years old, displaced
23. Mariam Hussein Habila – 33 years old
24. Tarteel Ahmed Jabir – 13 years old
25. Mona Al-Sadiq Omar – 39 years old, displaced
26. Mustafa Mohammed Ahmed Abdelkader – 13 years old
27. Fatima Ahmed Al-Fadil – 41 years old, displaced
28. Harana Yas – 32 years old, displaced
29. Anas Issa Youssef – 12 years old
30. Ashraf Issa Youssef – 12 years old
31. Saleh Issa Mohammed Ahmed Jawda – 19 years old, displaced
32. Mohammed Issa Saleh Jawda – 29 years old
33. Saida Al-Jinniya Hamed Sabula – 64 years old, displaced
34. Mustafa Tarek Al-Sayed – 10 years old, displaced
35. Mohammed Al-Sadiq Hamadto – 29 years old, displaced
36. Al-Amin Ismail Hassan – 21 years old, displaced
37. Mohammed Al-Taher Ali – 31 years old, displaced
38. Hendiri Ahmed Faiq – 22 years old, displaced
39. Siddiq Ismail Abdullah – 42 years old, displaced
40. Mona Al-Sadiq Ali Hassan – 51 years old, displaced
41. Mahmoud Adam Khair – 65 years old, displaced
42. Al-Fateh Othman Ali – 35 years old, displaced
43. Asim Neel Jumaa – 42 years old
44. Zubaida Ali Hamed Mukhir – 32 years old
45. 16 unidentified individuals
Humanitarian Impact:
The bombardment not only claimed lives but also left hundreds of people without access to basic services and necessities. A severe shortage of medical supplies has been reported in Koma, and several critically injured civilians died due to a lack of emergency medical care. The attack also destroyed health facilities and makeshift shelters that had been established to support the displaced population, further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation.
The shortage of humanitarian aid has led to numerous deaths that could have been avoided. Humanitarian corridors must be urgently opened to facilitate the provision of medicine, food, and shelter to those in desperate need. Many victims remain unaccounted for, and the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
Legal Analysis and Violations:
The deliberate targeting of civilian populations and IDP camps through aerial bombardment by military aircraft constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity. These actions flagrantly violate the principles of distinction and proportionality as enshrined in the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which prohibits indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Furthermore, the systematic use of aerial bombardment by the Sudanese Armed Forces in Darfur illustrates a clear pattern of collective punishment and an intentional strategy to terrorize civilian populations.
Recommendations:
1. International Accountability:
The Darfur Victims Support Organization calls on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to immediately launch an investigation into these grave violations and bring those responsible, including military commanders and political leaders, to justice for their role in these atrocities.
2. Urgent Protection Measures:
We urge the United Nations, African Union, and other international bodies to take immediate and concrete steps to protect civilians in Darfur by implementing a no-fly zone over conflict zones and ensuring the safety of internally displaced populations.
3. Prosecution of Aerial Bombing Perpetrators:
We demand the immediate prosecution of military commanders of the Sudanese Air Force responsible for orchestrating these attacks, and particularly those involved in the Koma massacre.
4. Humanitarian Access:
The Darfur Victims Support Organization calls on international humanitarian organizations to expedite the delivery of emergency medical aid, food supplies, and shelter to the displaced populations in Koma and surrounding areas, ensuring that those affected receive life-saving assistance.
5. International Condemnation:
The organization calls on the international community to publicly condemn the use of aerial bombardment against civilians and to apply diplomatic pressure on the Sudanese government to cease its campaign of terror against the people of Darfur.
The tragedy that occurred in Koma on 4 October 2024 is a stark reminder of the ongoing atrocities being perpetrated against innocent civilians in Darfur. Despite their displacement, the people of Darfur continue to suffer from relentless violence and deprivation. The international community must take decisive action to stop these crimes, hold the perpetrators accountable, and protect the civilians who remain caught in the crossfire of this devastating conflict. Time is of the essence; without immediate intervention, countless more lives will be lost.
