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Sudanese soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces unit secure the area in the East Nile province, Sudan, on June 22, 2019 (Photo: African News)
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KHARTOUM - In Khartoum State, the epicenter of Sudan's ongoing conflict, over 61,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in April last year, according to a report by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's Sudan Research Group. This figure is a stark increase compared to earlier estimates by the United Nations and other aid agencies, which had reported 20,000 confirmed fatalities.
The report highlights the challenges of accurately tracking deaths in Sudan due to the chaos and lack of a systematic mechanism for recording casualties. It notes that of the reported deaths, 26,000 were caused by direct violence, while starvation and preventable diseases remain the leading causes of death across the country.
Aid organizations describe the crisis as the world's worst humanitarian disaster, with vast areas of Sudan on the brink of famine. Following a visit to the country in September, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that starvation was "almost everywhere."
Both warring factions—the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—stand accused of committing war crimes, exacerbating the suffering of civilians.
The conflict has displaced more than 11 million people, forcing many to flee their homes and worsening the already dire humanitarian situation. Aid agencies continue to call for urgent international intervention to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the growing crisis.
Source: African News
