ED DAMAZIN – Four civilians from the same family were killed on Wednesday in a drone attack on a residential neighborhood in Ed Damazin, Blue Nile, according to a local civil society group that blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) for the strike.

The Blue Nile Civil Society Initiative said the attack hit Al-Hijra neighborhood, east of Ed Damazin, in the early hours of Wednesday.

The group identified the victims as Nahid Al-Jundi Yassin, Hanaa Al-Jundi Yassin, Masajid Jaber Idris and Jamaya Al-Nour.

It said the attack struck residential areas and described the targeting of civilians and civilian neighborhoods as a violation of international humanitarian law, calling on all parties to protect civilians and civilian objects.

The initiative said the attack also targeted the home of Blue Nile Finance Minister Abbas Kara, but no confirmed casualties were reported there.

It argued that the presence of an official in a civilian home does not remove protections afforded to civilians and family members under international humanitarian law.

The group expressed concern over threats to civilian infrastructure, places of worship and educational institutions and called on all parties to refrain from attacks that could endanger civilians.

The incident comes amid escalating fighting in Blue Nile, where eastern parts of the region have witnessed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and forces from the RSF and allied SPLM-N.

Ed Damazin has also faced a series of drone attacks in recent days. Sudanese authorities have accused the RSF of carrying out strikes targeting the residence of the regional governor and other civilian locations.

The RSF did not immediately comment on those accusations.

The civil society initiative warned that continued drone attacks on towns and residential neighborhoods could increase civilian casualties and worsen the humanitarian situation.

It called for investigations into the incidents and accountability for those responsible.

The group also urged the RSF, SPLM-N and all other parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, avoid targeting homes, residential neighborhoods and places of worship, halt hostilities and allow safe passage for civilians and humanitarian assistance.

Sudan Now could not independently verify responsibility for Wednesday’s attack or the casualty figures reported by the initiative.