In Sudan, where civil war is ongoing, a drone struck a church filled with worshippers on September 19. 78 people were killed.
The Sudanese Armed Forces write about this.
The BBC, citing a medical source, put the death toll at 78, with 20 more Sudanese injured. The AP, citing an anonymous worker from the local humanitarian group Emergency Response Rooms, also wrote that the death toll is likely to rise as bodies lie under the rubble of the building.
BBC Verify has obtained authentic footage showing around 30 bodies wrapped in cloth lying next to a mosque in the west of the city of El Fashir, North Darfur region.
The attack on the church occurred during the 5am prayers. The Sudanese army claims that the shelling was carried out by the Rapid Response Force (RSF). This week, the RSF launched a new offensive on the city, which they have been besieging for more than a year. Due to the encirclement of El Fashir, medical assistance remains largely inaccessible.
What is known about the situation in Sudan?
Sudan has been in a civil war since April 2023. The Sudanese army is fighting the RSF. In the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, clashes broke out on April 15, 2023, between the army and the Rapid Response Force (RSF), which said they had taken control of the presidential palace, the residence of the army commander, and the international airport.
According to the World Health Organization, at least 40,000 people have died in the country, another 12 million people have left their homes, and many are on the verge of starvation.
On September 19, a UN report warned of “rising ethnic violence,” saying both sides were taking revenge on those they accused of collaborating with the other side.
