Darfur Victims Support Organization.
Report on the Aerial Bombardment by Military Aircraft in the City of Zalingei, Central Darfur State
September 1, 2024
Systematic Aerial Targeting of Civilians in Darfur: A Report on the Zalingei Bombing Incident
The suffering of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Darfur region continues unabated, exacerbated by hunger, aerial bombardments, and artillery shelling. On the night of August 31, 2024, around 10:00 PM Sudan local time, military aircraft affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) launched an airstrike on the city of Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State. This attack is part of a systematic and ongoing pattern of violence by the SAF, targeting civilian populations in the marginalized regions of Darfur, Kordofan, and the Blue Nile since the onset of conflicts in these areas.
Details of the Incident:
According to an eyewitness report to the Darfur Victims Support Organization, the bombing focused on two specific areas: the Khamsa Daqaiq IDP camp and the Karank neighborhood. These are purely civilian areas with no presence of military forces. In the Karank neighborhood, the homes of Idris and teacher Omar were targeted. In the Khamsa Daqaiq camp, the home of Hamid Ahmed was struck, resulting in the deaths of four family members:
Nour Al-Sham Hamid Ahmed Khamis, 22 years old.
Nadia Hamid Ahmed Khamis, 18 years old.
Mohamed Hamid Khamis, 17 years old.
A newborn baby, one day old.
Nour Al-Din, 22 years old.
In addition to these tragic deaths, the following individuals were injured:
Mariam Hamid, 20 years old.
Mohamed Hassan, 17 years old.
Al-Hadi, 33 years old.
The attack on Zalingei is not an isolated incident but part of a broader strategy employed by the Sudanese military to terrorize civilian populations in conflict zones. The use of aerial bombardment in this context is a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits indiscriminate attacks against civilians. The choice of targets, which included homes and IDP camps, underscores a deliberate strategy to instill fear and displace populations, further aggravating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Darfur Victims Support Organization strongly condemns the targeting of civilians through aerial bombardments by the Sudanese Air Force and artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Forces across Sudan. These actions represent gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, which must be addressed by the international community.
Recommendations:
A. Immediate Cessation of Hostilities:
• The Victims Support Organization calls for an immediate cessation of all military operations in Sudan. The continued violence only exacerbates the suffering of civilians and hinders efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
B. Implementation of No-Fly Zone:
• The Darfur Victims Support Organization urges the United Nations Security Council to enforce the 2005 resolution on Darfur, which called for a no-fly zone in the region. We also appeal for this no-fly zone to be extended to all conflict areas in Sudan to protect civilians from further aerial attacks.
C. Humanitarian Access:
• We demand unrestricted humanitarian access to all affected areas across Sudan to ensure the delivery of vital aid to those in desperate need.
D. Accountability and Justice:
• The Victims Support Organization calls for the prosecution of those responsible for these war crimes and for the establishment of justice for the victims. Accountability is essential to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities.
The bombing of Zalingei is a stark reminder of the ongoing violence and suffering in Darfur and other marginalized regions of Sudan. The international community must not remain silent in the face of such blatant violations of human rights. It is imperative that immediate and decisive action is taken to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable. The continuation of this systematic targeting of civilians is unacceptable and requires urgent intervention.
