On the first day of Ramadan, a tragic drone strike in the village of Um Rasuma, located in West Kordofan State, resulted in the devastating deaths of 26 civilians, with 15 of those being children. This incident occurred at approximately 1:00 PM, a time synonymous with families traditionally gathering at a water source to collect drinking water. The drone strike turned what should have been a commonplace activity into a horrific event, leaving many wounded and mourning.

Reports from the Darfur Network for Human Rights and the Emergency Lawyers monitoring group indicate that the drone specifically targeted the civilians present at the water well, a site they describe as having no military presence whatsoever. The timing of the strike, coinciding with Ramadan, a significant holy period observed by Muslims, adds a further layer of tragedy to an incident that highlights ongoing violence in Sudan. Rights monitors have expressed outrage and called into question the intentions behind the attack, suggesting it could represent a deliberate targeting of civilian life.

As the region grapples with the consequences of this attack, there are growing international calls for accountability and prevention of future civilian casualties. The incident reflects the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of hostilities. Analysts are concerned that such events, particularly during a holy month like Ramadan, might create deeper divisions and further complicate an already fractious situation in the country, necessitating urgent attention from the global community.