Ankara: More than 60 people were killed in an attack on a shelter in El-Fasher, the capital of the North Darfur State, a Sudanese relief committee reported Saturday. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of bombing the site with two drones and over eight incendiary shells.

According to Anadolu Agency, the El-Fasher Resistance Coordination, a grassroots committee, stated that the number of civilians killed at the Dar Al-Arqam shelter center has exceeded 60. The committee's statement revealed that the victims perished after Dar Al-Arqam School was targeted, resulting in bodies being scattered in a scene described as beyond description.

There has been no immediate response from the rebel group regarding the report. The committee condemned the attack, lamenting that civilians who were seeking safety found themselves facing death instead. They also highlighted that some bodies remain trapped under the rubble, while others were burned inside the shelter, including women, children, and the elderly.

Sudan's Doctors Network had earlier reported that among the fatalities were 17 children and 22 women. Additionally, 21 people sustained injuries, most of which were serious. The RSF has maintained a blockade on El-Fasher since May 2024, despite international warnings about the potential threats to the city, which serves as a hub for humanitarian operations across the five Darfur states.

Since April 2023, ongoing clashes between Sudanese army forces and the RSF have resulted in over 20,000 deaths and displaced approximately 15 million people, based on information from UN and local authorities. A study conducted by US universities estimates the death toll to be around 130,000.