On December 17, 2024, at approximately 9 PM, an airstrike by the Sudanese Air Force hit Nyala Boys’ Secondary School in South Darfur, killing nine people and injuring over fifteen others. The bombing targeted the school located in the Sada Ali neighborhood near Melga Market, an area where displaced persons had recently sought refuge.

According to eyewitness accounts, several individuals had fled the Zamzam camp in North Darfur after facing targeted violence from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They sought safety in the school, hoping to escape ongoing threats. The airstrike, however, turned their refuge into a site of devastation.

The school building sustained significant damage during the attack. Survivors described a scene of chaos as explosions ripped through the area, leaving many wounded and others searching for missing family members among the rubble. Local residents rushed to assist, while injured survivors were taken to nearby medical facilities.

The bombing comes amid heightened violence in South Darfur, where clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF have escalated in recent months. Civilians, particularly displaced populations, continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, often finding themselves caught between warring factions.

International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools. Such incidents, however, have become increasingly frequent in Darfur, further complicating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The attack on Nyala Boys’ Secondary School follows a pattern of intensified violence in South Darfur, with civilian casualties rising and infrastructure being destroyed. As the conflict persists, displaced communities face heightened risks, with limited access to safe shelter and basic resources.