Catastrophic Damage in Khartoum: Satellite Images Reveal Devastation in Civil Conflict
The ongoing civil conflict in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, has caused catastrophic damage according to satellite images obtained by the Conflict Observatory at Yale University. The images, captured using advanced technology, provide a glimpse into the extent of destruction and devastation caused by the conflict.
Sudan has been grappling with a civil conflict since April, pitting the government against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rebel group backed by the Russian mercenary company known as the Wagner Group. In a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese Army, called for increased aid from the international community and condemned the paramilitary groups responsible for violence, looting, and destruction.
The Conflict Observatory report highlights the challenges faced in obtaining open-source imagery due to power and telecom blackouts. Nevertheless, the Yale University initiative, in collaboration with other organizations, has managed to identify at least five explosions within Khartoum. These attacks have targeted a market, a hospital, and other locations, resulting in a significant loss of life. Shockingly, one explosion is believed to have been caused by a drone strike.
The Conflict Observatory has disclosed that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) may be responsible for a majority of the aerial strike damage. However, both sides have accused each other of attacks on various locations. Notably, the RSF has been receiving weapons, including drones, from the Wagner Group, which has a presence in eastern Libya. This involvement of drones in the conflict underscores the evolving nature of warfare and the global proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Violence has escalated since negotiations to return the government to civilian rule broke down in April. Al-Burhan, who assumed de facto control after a coup in 2021 following the removal of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, has struggled to integrate the RSF into the Sudanese military. The RSF launched a major assault on Khartoum, prompting intensified fighting and widespread destruction.
The international community has increasingly expressed concerns about the situation in Sudan. Human rights and humanitarian organizations recently published an open letter urging the UN Security Council to address the crisis urgently. Meanwhile, Sudan’s request for increased aid at the UN General Assembly indicates the desperate need for assistance in mitigating the destructive consequences of the ongoing conflict.
As the civil conflict continues to ravage Khartoum, satellite imagery serves as a haunting reminder of the devastation inflicted upon the city and its inhabitants. The international community must rally together to provide the necessary support and aid to alleviate the suffering and help rebuild Sudan in the aftermath of this catastrophic damage.
