In brief
As Sudan's civil war escalates, airstrikes by the military continue to claim civilian victims, including children. Refugees are fleeing to Chad where organizations like Doctors Without Borders are providing urgent medical care.
Airstrikes carried out by the Sudanese military in Darfur continue to generate a humanitarian crisis, driving countless refugees to seek safety and medical treatment across the border in Chad. Among the latest arrivals is ten-year-old Isah Abdallah Fadul, who was injured last year in an airstrike that hit a busy market in Darfur, marking a grim chapter in the ongoing conflict. Since the civil war began in April 2023, clashes between the Sudanese military and paramilitary forces of the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) have worsened, resulting in a troubling humanitarian landscape. The United Nations reports that military airstrikes have increased as attempts to repel R.S.F. advances unfold, leading to a surge in civilian casualties and the desperate flight of refugees toward remote border areas. At a Doctors Without Borders clinic, Isah’s father shared their ordeal, explaining how they found it difficult to receive adequate medical attention until now. The organization has expanded its mobile clinic services to accommodate the growing influx of injured refugees. The number of those fleeing is expected to further rise, particularly following the Sudanese military's recent regained control over the capital, Khartoum.As the conflict persists, incidents of indiscriminate attacks by the Sudanese military have been reported, with accusations of failures to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Meanwhile, the R.S.F. is likewise under scrutiny, facing allegations of ethnic violence and war crimes. Fleeing from airstrikes, families like Isah's are now enduring the challenges of displacement while making their way toward safety in Chad. Kubrah Abdullah Dawood, another refugee who recently crossed the border with her infant daughter, detailed her harrowing experience after an airstrike claimed her brother’s life in El Fasher, exemplifying the grave dangers Sudanese civilians face. With Doctors Without Borders increasing their efforts along the Chad border, they strive to offer critical healthcare to those traumatized and injured by the conflict, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance amidst a rapidly deteriorating situation in Sudan.
