On Thursday evening, December 26, 2024, the Sudanese Armed Forces carried out airstrikes on the Al-Wadi neighborhood, killing seven members of a single family, including teacher Mustafa Yaqoub, his wife, daughter, and sister-in-law. This attack destroyed their home and displaced many others, further deepening the suffering of civilians in the region.
Barrel Bombs on Residential Areas
Eyewitnesses reported that the airstrikes involved the use of barrel bombs, dropped indiscriminately on residential neighbourhoods free of any military presence. These neighbourhoods had no connection to the ongoing conflict, yet they have been repeatedly targeted. The attack on Thursday is part of a troubling pattern over 20 airstrikes have struck Nyala this month, causing deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction of homes.
The following day, Friday, December 27, 2024, a funeral procession was held in Nyala for the victims of the airstrikes. Hundreds of residents joined grieving families, mourning the tragic loss of life and expressing their anger at the continued violence against civilians. Mourners called for an immediate halt to the targeting of residential areas and demanded accountability for the perpetrators of these violations.
The targeting of civilian homes in Al-Wadi neighborhood represents a gross violation of international humanitarian law. These laws explicitly prohibit attacks on civilians and residential areas during armed conflicts. The continued use of airstrikes against non-combatant zones in Darfur signals an alarming escalation in violence, placing already vulnerable communities at even greater risk.
DNHR calls for immediate, independent international investigations into these airstrikes to uncover the truth and ensure accountability. All parties in the conflict must adhere to international humanitarian law and halt their attacks on civilians and residential areas. At the same time, humanitarian organizations and the international community must provide urgent aid to affected communities and work to protect those still at risk.
The ongoing violence in Darfur must not continue unchecked. Civilians deserve safety, dignity, and justice, and DNHR remains steadfast in its commitment to amplifying their voices and advocating for accountability.
