Drone Attack Kills at Least 43 in a Sudanese Open Market

A drone attack took place on Sunday at an open market located south of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, according to reports by the Associated Press. Tragically, at least 43 people lost their lives in this incident. The attack occurred amidst an ongoing power struggle between the military and rival paramilitary groups in the country.

According to eyewitnesses, a military aircraft exploded in the crowded market in southern Khartoum on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at about 7 a.m. The explosion took the lives of 35 people on the spot, leaving at least 60 others wounded.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), on their X handle, revealed that the 60 injured victims were rushed to the Bashair Teaching Hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

“More than 60 wounded patients were received in Bashair Teaching Hospital, with 35 already dead, after a nearby market was struck with explosive weapons this morning,” the organisation tweeted immediately after the incident. They went ahead to liken the incident to “carnage”.

MSF Sudan, on their own handle, indicated that they are performing surgeries on open wombs. “We’re trying to save the lives of people whose body parts have been ripped off by the explosion,” they stated

Shedding more light on the incident, MSF’s emergency coordinator, Marie Burton, noted in a tweet that the medical personnel in Bashair Hospital were shocked and overwhelmed gravity of horror that hit the market.

“I stopped counting how many wounded had arrived. Double amputation of the arms for one patient, visceral surgeries. The injuries are insufferable,” said Marie Burton.

It should be recalled that Sudan engaged in an armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, rival factions of the military government of Sudan, on April 15, 2023.

Since its eruption, the fight has mainly been concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region.

As of September 5, 2023, over 4 million people were internally displaced, with over 1.1 million others reported to have fled the country as refugees.