Khartoum: At least 28 people were killed and dozens injured in a drone strike on a marketplace in the Al-Saffiya area of North Kordofan in southern Sudan, a local group said Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Emergency Lawyers group, which documents rights abuses, reported that drones targeted a market northeast of the Sodari locality. The group noted that the casualty toll is preliminary and may increase, as the attack occurred when the market was crowded with people, including women, children, and the elderly.

The group condemned the attack as a 'serious violation of international humanitarian law' and stated that it undermines the principle of civilian protection during armed conflict. The statement from the group warned that the repeated use of drones in populated areas indicates an 'escalation' that poses a threat to civilian safety and daily life in the state.

Furthermore, the group called upon all warring parties in Sudan to cease drone attacks, refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure, and adhere to international humanitarian law. The statement did not specify which party was responsible for the drone strike.

Sudan has been entrenched in a violent conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. This ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced approximately 13 million people, and contributed to one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, according to UN reports.