Report on Aerial Bombardment in Al-Kuma, North Darfur State
Report on Aerial Bombardment
Darfur Victims support Organization
On November 8, 2024, the city of Al-Kuma in North Darfur was subjected to a fifth airstrike since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan on April 15, 2023. This recent aerial attack targeted areas where internally displaced persons (IDPs) were gathered, resulting in civilian injuries and severe damage to essential infrastructure. These recurring airstrikes have destabilized the security of thousands of residents, making aerial bombardments a grim daily threat for the inhabitants of Al-Kuma.
About Al-Kuma:
Located in the eastern part of North Darfur State and closest to the city of Al-Fashir, Al-Kuma is primarily an agricultural and pastoral community. The city has previously endured repeated airstrikes, one of which completely destroyed its main marketplace, further exacerbating the hardship faced by its residents and worsening their already dire living conditions.
Details of the Recent Attack:
At 9:41 a.m. on November 8, 2024, Sudanese military aircraft launched an aerial bombardment on Al-Kuma, striking key civilian sites. Three shells were dropped; the first destroyed the city’s main water station, threatening to cut off its primary water supply. The second hit Al-Fareq Boys’ Primary School, locally known as “Al-Nahrain,” which served as a temporary shelter for many displaced families. The third shell targeted residential areas, sparking panic among the population.
Civilian Casualties:
The Darfur Victims Support Organization documented the following injuries among civilians:
• Reem Ahmed Hassan, age 13 – injuries to the leg and back.
• Hassan Mahmoud Jad Al-Rab, age 56 – injuries to the hand and head.
• Mohamed Hassan Adam, age 7 – head injury.
• Mustafa Mohamed Haroun, age 11 – right shoulder injury.
• Mohamed Abdel Rahman Adam, age 9 – injuries to the back and shoulder.
• Hassouna Hamid Jar Al-Nabi, age 32 – shoulder injury.
• Aboud Mukher Mohamed Eid, age 65 – chest injury.
Material Damage:
• Main Water Station: The bombing destroyed a charity water well, previously serving as the main water source for more than 45,000 households in the city and surrounding areas.
• Al-Fareq Primary School: The school, which housed displaced families, mostly women and children fleeing violence in Al-Fashir, sustained significant damage.
• IDP Shelters: Al-Kuma previously hosted 21 IDP shelters, but the bombardment forced many to flee again into surrounding rural areas, leaving others without shelter or protection.
Advocacy Demands from the Darfur Victims support Organization:
The Darfur Victims Support Organization urgently calls for the following actions:
1. An immediate ban on military flights over civilian areas in Darfur, halting airstrikes that jeopardize civilian lives and target vital infrastructure.
2. Accountability for those responsible for the attacks, ensuring that perpetrators of such crimes face justice to prevent impunity.
3. Urgent intervention from humanitarian organizations and the international community to provide emergency aid to displaced persons in Al-Kuma and meet the pressing needs of affected residents.
In light of these repeated, targeted airstrikes against civilians and critical infrastructure in Darfur, the Darfur Victims support Organization calls for immediate and decisive action to end these ongoing violations that threaten the lives of thousands of innocent people in Al-Kuma and beyond. A ban on military flights over Darfur has become an urgent necessity, alongside accountability for those responsible and immediate humanitarian assistance for the victims. The organization appeals to the international community and humanitarian entities for swift intervention to protect civilians and alleviate their increasing suffering; civilian lives must be an absolute priority.
